Eagles’ Greatest Hits Album First To Get 4x Diamond Certification
There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes, and the fact that the Eagles are playing on a classic rock radio station somewhere in the world right this very second. But now, we have the numbers to back up just how inescapable this band really is. That’s a good thing! Who would’ve thought Linda Ronstadt’s back up band would take it to the limit?
The Eagles Soar to Quadruple Diamond
In a move that solidifies their stranglehold on American music history, the Eagles have officially shattered a ceiling that no one else has even touched. The Eagles’ seminal compilation album Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, has been certified Quadruple Diamond by the RIAA. If you’re wondering what that translates to in plain English, it means the album has sold a staggering 40 million copies in the United States alone. Amazing!
To put that into perspective: most bands throw a party if they go Platinum (that’s 1 million sales). The Eagles just did that 40 times over with a single record.
The Eagles Are Officially in a League of Their Own
For a long time, the battle for the “best-selling album of all time” crown was a tight race between the Eagles and the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. For years, Thriller and Their Greatest Hits traded musical blows, swapping the number one spot back and forth as certifications were updated.
But with this latest announcement from the RIAA, the debate is effectively over. Thriller is currently sitting at a respectable (and still massive) 34x Platinum. That leaves a six-million-unit gap between MJ and the Eagles. In the music industry, a lead that wide isn’t just a win; it’s a blowout.
What makes this even more mind-bending is that Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is, well, a greatest hits album. It’s a compilation. Usually, music purists argue that studio albums are where the real art lives, but the American public clearly disagrees. We want “Take It Easy,” “Desperado,” and “One of These Nights” all in one place, and we have been buying that specific collection for nearly 50 years.
Don Henley and the Endurance of Classic Rock
It’s easy to be cynical about sales numbers in the streaming era, but you have to respect the longevity here. Don Henley, the band’s drummer, vocalist, and founding member, released a statement regarding the Quadruple Diamond status that was surprisingly touching. He stated to the Associated Press:
“In an age, in a culture, where everything seems to become more ephemeral by the day, it is gratifying to have been part of something that endures, even for 50 years,”
He’s not wrong. In a TikTok-fueled world where songs go viral for 15 seconds and then vanish into the digital ether, the fact that a collection of country-rock songs from the early 70s is still moving units is a testament to how deeply this music is embedded in the American DNA. It’s the soundtrack to road trips, barbecues, and dive bars across the country. It’s absolutely intergenerational.
Even Their Runner-Up Stats Are Insane
If you thought the Eagles were done flexing, think again. The RIAA also updated the certification for their 1976 masterpiece, “Hotel California.” That album is now certified 28x Platinum.
Let’s do the math here. The number one best-selling album in US history is the Eagles. The number three best-selling album in US history (right behind Thriller) is… also the Eagles. They are essentially competing with themselves for podium spots at this point. It creates a fascinating scenario where, to be a “true” fan, you pretty much have to own both records, considering the Greatest Hits album came out a year before the iconic song “Hotel California” dropped. That definitely calls for pink champagne on ice.
The Sphere, Vinyl, and the Victory Lap
Naturally, the band isn’t just sitting at home polishing their diamond plaques. They are currently in the middle of a massive residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas – ya know, that futuristic, screen-wrapped venue that seems custom-built for legacy acts to blow minds.
They are playing dates through March 2026, giving fans a chance to see these songs performed live in an immersive environment. For the audiophiles who refuse to stream, the band is dropping a new, crystal-clear 180-gram vinyl edition of Their Greatest Hits to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
So, go ahead and make your jokes about “The Dude” (from “The Big Lebowski”) hating the Eagles. Maybe he wasn’t getting a “Peaceful Easy Feeling” in the cab scene. The numbers definitely don’t lie. They are the champions of American rock, and at 40 million sales, they aren’t going anywhere.
