Madonna Re-Certified as Biggest-Selling Female Recording Artist of All Time
The Queen of Pop continues to reign when it comes to music sales.
Madonna, who is currently on her Celebration Tour, has been re-certified by the Guinness World Records as the biggest-selling female recording artist of all time. She has reportedly sold more than 400 million records — albums, singles and digital — during her 40-year music career.
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According to the website, the singer has held the record since 2009, with Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé following right behind.
As of July 2022, Guinness World Records said Madonna is also the highest-grossing female touring artist, after grossing more than $1.3 billion from her tours. But that number is likely to increase after her latest stint.
The pop star kicked off her 12th concert tour, the Celebration Tour, in London on Oct. 14 before making her way to the U.S. on Dec. 13.
Madonna’s tour was initially supposed to start in July, but it was postponed after she was hospitalized with a bacterial infection. She wrote on social media at the time amid her recovery, “Thank you for your positive energy, Prayers and words for healing and encouragement. I have felt your love. I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.”
She continued, “My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children. My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn’t want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone.”
Madonna also has competition following Swift’s The Eras Tour, which finished its first U.S. leg in August, and Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, which wrapped in October. Guinness World Records has yet to certify either of those two tour’s record-breaking sales.
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