Carrie Underwood’s Best-Selling Album Revealed—And It’s Not Even Close!

Carrie Underwood’s meteoric rise from American Idol winner to country music superstar is marked by numerous chart-topping hits, Grammy awards, and millions of album sales. But when it comes to the best-selling album in her storied career, there’s one clear frontrunner—Some Hearts, her 2005 debut album. And it’s not even close.

The Rise of a Country Superstar

Carrie Underwood became a household name after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released later that year and shattered records almost immediately. The album was the fastest-selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history and remains the best-selling solo female country debut in RIAA history. It also stands as the top-selling debut album of any American Idol contestant in the United States. These accomplishments set the stage for Underwood’s enduring success.

Sales Figures and Certifications

To determine which of Underwood’s albums holds the title of best-seller, we examined official RIAA certifications and third-party estimates. According to the RIAA, Some Hearts has been certified 7× Platinum, representing 7 million units sold in the U.S. alone. The next closest album is Carnival Ride (2007), certified 4× Platinum with 4 million U.S. sales, followed by Play On (2009) at 3× Platinum and 3 million in the U.S.

While these figures provide a good indication of sales in the U.S., they don’t account for international markets. Third-party sources such as BestSellingAlbums.org estimate Some Hearts has sold over 9.3 million copies worldwide, further cementing its position as Underwood’s best-seller. This includes international sales, where the album gained significant traction in markets such as Canada, Australia, and the U.K.

Discrepancies in Total Sales

Despite these impressive numbers, discrepancies in the reported total sales figures add some complexity to the picture. Wikipedia states that Underwood has sold 16.3 million albums in the U.S., while BestSellingAlbums.org reports a figure of 22.8 million U.S. sales. Adding to the confusion, ChartMasters estimates that Underwood’s total equivalent album sales, which include streaming equivalents, exceed 28 million units globally.

These discrepancies are likely due to differing methods of counting sales, particularly as the industry moves toward streaming models. Some sources factor in digital streaming equivalents, while others only include physical and digital album sales.

International Impact and Comparisons

When examining Underwood’s sales on a global scale, Some Hearts clearly outshines her other albums. For example, Carnival Ride, which sold 4 million copies in the U.S., likely saw a modest amount of international success—BestSellingAlbums.org estimates about 1 million units sold internationally, bringing its total to around 5 million copies. This still falls short of Some Hearts‘ total, with its estimated 9.3 million worldwide sales.

Underwood’s other albums, such as Blown Away (2012) and Storyteller (2015), also achieved commercial success, but none have come close to matching Some Hearts. Internationally, Carnival Ride has sold approximately 180,000 copies in the U.K., further showing the limited global footprint of Underwood’s post-Some Hearts releases.

The Future of Underwood’s Sales

With the rise of streaming, album sales have significantly slowed, and recent releases like Standing Room Only (2023) have yet to receive RIAA certifications, indicating that they haven’t yet reached the sales levels of her earlier works. While Some Hearts has continued to sell consistently since its 2005 release, it’s unlikely that newer albums will surpass it, especially as streaming now dominates the music industry landscape.

Given that Some Hearts was released nearly two decades ago, its sales longevity is remarkable, and its place as Carrie Underwood’s best-selling album remains unchallenged—at least for now.

Conclusion

Carrie Underwood’s debut album, Some Hearts, remains her crowning achievement in terms of album sales, both in the U.S. and globally. With 7 million copies sold domestically and an estimated 9.3 million worldwide, Some Hearts continues to outpace all of Underwood’s subsequent releases, solidifying its position as the undisputed champion in her discography. As the music industry evolves, it seems this album will remain a standout in her career for years to come.