Who’s the bestselling country artist of all time? It’s an answer that evolved over the last few months of 2025, as The Recording Industry Association of America tallied the latest numbers.
In early October, the RIAA declared Luke Combs not only the bestselling male, but the country artist with the most certifications in history, racking up 168 million units during his career.
You might recall it’s a record previously held by Garth Brooks.
“I mean, it’s all very unexpected, I think,” Luke said just prior to November’s CMA Awards. “You can’t plan to get to this point, you know. And obviously when I moved here, I just wanted to be able to make a living doing music, whatever that looked like.”
Luke was ever humble and quick to give the credit to his supporters: “It’s all been a blessing, and I’m very fortunate and I’m just thankful, man, for the fans. I mean, it’s all them.”
Near the end of October, the RIAA revealed Carrie Underwood shares similar honors, having sold 95 million units, including 22.5 million albums and 72.5 million singles.
“Accomplishments like this are more than I would have ever dared to dream of when I was starting out,” she said in a statement. “I owe everything to the fans, who have literally voted for me from the beginning of my career and have showed up and given me so much love for over 20 years. I feel truly blessed.”
When the final tallies were announced in December, it was Morgan Wallen who would come out on top.
He’s sold 239.5 million singles and 26 million albums, for a total of 265.5 million units, according to the RIAA. That makes him not only the bestselling artist in country music, but also the third-most-certified artist in any genre, behind Drake and Taylor Swift.
For George Birge and his wife Kara Birge, Dec. 25 typically starts with a visit from Santa in Music City, followed by packing up the kids and hopping on a plane to their native Austin, Texas.
But this year, things will be different for 6-year-old Luke Birge and older brother George James Birge, who’ll be 9 in January.
“I finally this year, I was like, ‘Can we please stay at home for Christmas?,'” George Sr. tells ABC Audio. “So we’re gonna stay home for Christmas.”
“We’ve got a neighborhood with a bunch of friends in it and the kids love to all run around and it’s just warm enough around Christmas in Nashville. So [it’ll] be nice to wake up in our own bed, open some presents and then, you know, for once, instead of packing and feeling like Christmas, like [in] Home Alone,” he laughs, “running through the airport, we’ll get to kind of kick up, have a cup of coffee on the couch and enjoy it a little bit.”
The Birges did travel back to the Lone Star State for some time with family at Thanksgiving.
George will start 2026 with one of the most enviable gigs around, playing Luke Bryan‘s Crash My Playa getaway in Cancun in January, right before the start of his Cowboy Songs Tour.
Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra in ‘Pluribus.’ (Apple TV)
The finale of Apple TV’s Pluribus, about an alien virus that connects almost everyone in the world to an exceedingly cheerful hive mind, airs Wednesday. Karolina Wydra, who plays Zosia on the show, says it will leave you shook — and wondering what’s next.
“I think there’s gonna be a lot of questions raised. I think people are gonna be surprised,” she tells ABC Audio. “I think they’re gonna be shocked. I think people are going to be left with a big ‘what?’ question mark.”
Referring to the final moments of the episode, she adds, “When I read it, I went, ‘What the hell?’ Like, ‘What is happening? What?’ We all did!”
Pluribus has become Apple TV’s most-watched series ever — bigger than Ted Lasso and Severance. “I think our show is so original and it’s never been done before. And I think people want original stories,” Wydra explains.
It’s also a show where, as she puts it, “You actually have to lean in and listen and observe and be present. And I think people are enjoying that. And also that it’s coming out weekly and people have to wait for it and have something to look forward to.”
In last week’s episode, Zosia and Carol, played by Rhea Seehorn, become lovers. But since Zosia is part of the hive mind — or as the actors call it, The Collective — does Zosia have actual feelings for Carol?
“The Collective … really love[s] her unconditionally. They have genuine love for her, and I think for them, sex is an expression of true love. It’s not an act, but just sharing oneself with another,” Wydra explains. She adds, “I mean, we would laugh because we would say she basically just had an intimate moment with the rest of the world!”
But though Zosia is part of The Collective, Wydra still has questions about how it all works.
“I’m very curious still to find out, when you’re born, do you automatically become full of knowledge, and a two-year-old can perform open-heart surgery?” she muses, wondering, “…[D]oes innocence still exist?”
Cardi B went viral for her courtroom drama in 2025, but she wasn’t the only major figure forced to face a judge. One of the most defining legal moments of the year came when Sean “Diddy” Combs stood trial in a high-profile federal case involving charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Jury selection began on May 5, 2025, with opening statements delivered the following week. Numerous witnesses testified over the course of the multiweek trial, but Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura’s testimony was the centerpiece of the prosecution’s case. She and several others described alleged patterns of violence, coercion and sexual exploitation, before the verdict was delivered in early July.
Combs was acquitted on the most serious charges — racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking — but was convicted on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act. In October, he was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine, followed by supervised release. He is currently serving his sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey.
His legal team has filed an appeal in an attempt to reduce his prison term; they’ve been granted an expedited appeal schedule for his conviction.
While Diddy has largely remained out of public view, photos and short clips have been released, offering rare insight into his incarceration.
As the legal process continues, Combs ends the year as the subject of renewed public scrutiny following the release of the Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning, executive produced by 50 Cent. 50 claimed he believed Combs would like the documentary, though reports say Combs attempted to block its release. His attorneys have since sent a cease and desist letter, alleging the project uses “stolen footage that was never authorized for release,” according to CNN.
Leona Lewis performs during opening night of her Las Vegas Christmas residency at Voltaire Las Vegas, November 1, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Denise Truscello/Getty Images for ABA); Melanie ‘Mel C’ Chisholm attends the ‘Victoria Beckham’ World Premiere, October 8, 2025 in London, England. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
If you watch British TV shows or movies, you may be aware of the distinctly British Christmas tradition of the “Christmas cracker“: a wrapped cardboard tube that pops when you pull it apart, revealing a paper crown, a tiny present and a terrible joke. While they’ve become more popular in the U.S. in recent years, one British pop star recalls searching in vain for them for her first American Christmas.
“I remember when I first came to America and had a Christmas here, me and my mom were like, ‘Okay, let’s go get the Christmas crackers,'” Leona Lewis told ABC Audio. “Y’know, we went to the shops, it’s Christmas Eve. And people were like ‘What? You want what?'”
“We’re like, ‘Christmas crackers!’ — no one knew what we were talking about!” the “Bleeding Love” singer laughed. “I was like, ‘They don’t have Christmas crackers in America — this is so crazy!'”
But Leona, who’s currently doing a holiday residency in Las Vegas, said one thoughtful fan made sure she had the experience, even in Sin City.
“Someone bought me a Christmas cracker to the show. And when I was walking on the catwalk, he handed it to me and we pulled the Christmas cracker together,” she laughed. “It was so cute!”
Meanwhile, another British pop star thinks it’s “wild” that Christmas crackers aren’t a regular part of holiday celebrations in the U.S.: Spice Girl Mel C.
“We need to introduce them, because they’re fun!” she told ABC Audio. “The presents are always rubbish. It’s not about the gift, it’s about the corny jokes you get inside.”
2025 began with the surprise news that the original Black Sabbath lineup — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward — would be reuniting for one final show. It was also announced that the concert would mark Ozzy’s final live performance, a promise that he sadly fulfilled upon his death just over two weeks after the show.
The concert, dubbed Back to the Beginning, was set for July 5 at Villa Park, a stadium in Sabbath’s hometown of Birmingham, England. Along with sets by Sabbath and Ozzy, the lineup promised nearly every big-name metal and hard rock band you could think of: Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Lamb of God, Halestorm, Anthrax, Rival Sons and Mastodon.
Additionally, music director Tom Morello put together all-star jams featuring artists including Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Yungblud, Disturbed‘s David Draiman, Sammy Hagar, Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler, Adam Jones and Danny Carey of Tool, blink-182‘s Travis Barker, Ghost‘s Tobias Forge and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Those who wouldn’t be able to attend the massive show in person would be able to watch it streaming online.
As ambitious as all that seemed, the main concern going into Back to the Beginning was Ozzy’s health, which had kept him from performing a full live set for over six years. Ozzy cautioned that he and Sabbath would “only be playing a couple songs each,” telling The Guardian, “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.”
When the big day finally came, Ozzy did indeed take the stage following hours of performances and tributes courtesy of the aforementioned stacked lineup. While seated, Ozzy was first joined by his solo band for a five-song set featuring classics including “Crazy Train,” “Mr. Crowley” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” He then returned while flanked by his Sabbath bandmates to rock out four more songs: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid.”
Following the concert, the participating artists flocked to social media to reflect on the special experience. A new Ozzy memoir called Last Rites was announced days later, suggesting that while Ozzy may have played his final concert, he was still planning to be busy.
However, the celebrations soon turned to grief when, on July 22, it was announced that Ozzy had died at age 76.
Tributes poured in from every corner of the music universe and beyond, which remembered him not only for his artistic achievements but also his massive impact on culture in general. A funeral procession was held in Birmingham on July 30.
On Sept. 7, the MTV Video Music Awards staged a tribute to Ozzy featuring a performance by Yungblud alongside Tyler and his Aerosmith bandmate Joe Perry.
Members of the Osbourne family eventually issued their own statements, culminating with a return of The OsbournesPodcast featuring widow Sharon Osbourne, daughter Kelly Osbourne and son Jack Osbourne.
The Beatles may have broken up in 1970, but the band continues to live on and 2025 was no exception.
-Fans of the band got a new look at their 1990s Anthology project with reissues of the documentary series, music and book.
-Disney+ debuted a restored and remastered version of the Anthology documentary series, which aired on ABC in 1995, with the eight-part series expanded to nine episodes. In addition, the music was reissued as The Anthology Collection, a box set featuring the first three Anthology albums, along with a new fourth edition, featuring 13 previously unreleased recordings. Anthology 4 was also released as a standalone.
-A 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology book, featuring more than 1,300 photos, documents, artwork and memorabilia, was also released.
-This year also brought casting news for Sam Mendes‘ four Beatles films, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, due out in April 2028. The project, in which each film will be told from the point of view of a different band member, will star Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
Among this year’s other Beatles highlights:
-Ringo released a new country album, Look Up, and as part of the promotion for his Grand Ole Opry debut. He also headlined two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, joined by some famous friends, with the shows turned into a special that aired on CBS.
-The Beatles won another Grammy, taking home best rock performance for “Now and Then.” In addition, Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon won the Grammy for best boxed or special limited edition package for his work on the reissue of his late father’s Mind Games album.
-McCartney surprised fans in New York City by headlining three shows at the 575-person-capacity Bowery Ballroom. The shows were a lead-up to his performance on the SNL 50 anniversary special.
-A new documentary about Lennon and wife Yoko Ono, One to One: John & Yoko, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, opened in theaters in April.
-Original Beatles drummer Pete Best announced his retirement from music.
-The Lennon documentary Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade, from director Alan G. Parker, debuted in London in May. The film eventually opened in the U.S. in December.
-McCartney returned to the stage in the band’s hometown of Liverpool, joining Bruce Springsteen for The Boss’ show at Anfield Stadium. They played two songs together, The Beatles’ classic “Can’t Buy Me Love” and a cover of the Leiber & Stoller tune “Kansas City,” which The Beatles recorded in 1964.
-McCartney brought his Got Back tour back to North America in September, starting with a warm-up show in Santa Barbara, California, before officially kicking things off in Palm Desert, California.
-A new box set celebrating John and Yoko’s activism, Power to the People (Super Deluxe Edition), produced by Sean Ono Lennon, was released to coincide with what would have been John’s 85th birthday. It featured 123 tracks, 90 of which had either never been heard before or were previously unreleased.
-McCartney released a new book, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, dedicated to his post-Beatles career in Wings. A new documentary focusing on that time period, Man on the Run, was acquired by Amazon MGM and will debut on Prime Video Feb. 25, 2026. It is also expected to be released in select theaters.
-The BBC announced it had picked up a new drama series, Hamburg Days, which will focus on The Beatles’ early days as a band. The six-part series is based on the autobiography by German artist, musician and longtime Beatles pal Klaus Voormann.
‘Lighthouse: Live From London’ album artwork. (Luke Shadrick/earMUSIC)
Along with decking the halls, you can also Duff the halls this Christmas Eve.
Duff McKagan has announced a stream of his Lighthouse: Live from London concert film, premiering on his YouTube channel at noon ET on Dec. 24.
Lighthouse: Live from London captures the Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist’s 2024 show in the English capital while touring behind his 2023 solo album, Lighthouse. It was released as a live album in October.
McKagan will be back rocking with GN’R on their upcoming world tour, which launches in the U.S. in May. The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers also just put out a pair of new songs, “Nothin'” and “Atlas,” earlier in December, marking their first fresh material in two years.
21 Savage ‘What Happened to the Streets?’ cover art (Slawn)
21 Savage debuts at #3 on the Billboard 200 with his latest release, What Happened to the Streets? The album earned 73,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Dec. 18, according to Luminate, with 48,000 units from streaming and 25,000 from album sales.
With the debut, What Happened to the Streets? becomes his seventh album to chart in the top 10. It also opens at #5 on the top streaming albums and top album sales charts.
Released on Friday, the album features guest appearances from Young Nudy, Latto, Drake, GloRilla, G Herbo, Lil Baby and Jawan Harris. Speaking on the Perspektives With Bank podcast about the album’s title, 21 Savage said, “The street dead. It’s f***** up. S*** ain’t the same no more.”
Artists have since echoed his recent “f*** the streets” slogan, which he first used in a message directed at Young Thug and Gunna.
“When I say f the streets I’m talking about the part that gave me trauma and made me can’t sleep at night,” 21 later clarified on his Instagram Story. “If you ain’t tired of that part you ain’t been through it!”
During an Instagram Live, 21 added that he probably should have said, “Save the streets.”
The Department of State building in Washington, July 11, 2025. Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration is recalling dozens of career diplomats from overseas posts in the next month, according to a source familiar with the matter, the latest shakeup at the U.S. State Department.
More than two dozen senior diplomats have received notice that they must leave their roles in the next month, according to the source.
According to the American Foreign Service Association, the labor union that represents the U.S. foreign service and career diplomats, those affected by the recall report being notified by a phone call that they were being removed from their posts “abruptly,” with no explanation provided.
They were directed to vacate their posts by Jan. 15 or 16.
“This method is highly irregular,” a spokesperson for AFSA told ABC News.
“This is not normal practice. Career diplomats and ambassadors are not typically recalled in this manner. The lack of transparency and process breaks sharply with longstanding norms,” the spokesperson said.
Most of the impacted ambassadors are serving at U.S. diplomatic posts in Africa, but the removals also affect posts in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere.
A senior State Department official described the recall of the ambassadors as “a standard process in any administration.”
“An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” they said.
The State Department declined to comment on specific numbers or ambassadors affected.
AFSA confirmed there is no official, verified list of recalled ambassadors.
There are various lists circulating that appear to be crowdsourced from people inside and outside the department, according AFSA.
POLITICO first reported on the removal of the diplomats.
The recall is the latest move by the Trump administration to reshape the State Department to align it more with its “America First” priorities. The recall comes after more than 1,300 officials and more than 240 foreign service officers were laid off earlier this year as part of what the administration said was a major reorganization aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing government size.
It is typically normal for new presidents to replace political appointments service in ambassador roles; however, career diplomats are typically allowed to continue serving in their roles.
The AFSA slammed the recall, saying it sends a “chilling signal” to career foreign service officers that their oaths to the Constitution take a backseat to political loyalty.
“Removing senior diplomats without cause undermines U.S. credibility abroad and sends a chilling signal to the professional Foreign Service: experience and an oath to the Constitution take a backseat to political loyalty. This is not how America leads,” the statement said.
AFSA says the recall represents “a steady erosion of norms, transparency, and professional independence in the Foreign Service.”
“Abrupt, unexplained recalls reflect the same pattern of institutional sabotage and politicization our survey data shows is already harming morale, effectiveness, and U.S. credibility abroad,” the spokesperson said.
AFSA is working with partners to confirm names one-by-one through direct contacts.
ABC News’ Luis Martinez and Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
