Rihanna has made music industry history after becoming the first female artist to surpass 200 million Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) singles certifications, despite not releasing a studio album in 10 years.
As of April 15, the 38-year-old singer has accumulated 200.5 million certified units, placing her third on the all-time list behind Drake with 277.5 million and Morgan Wallen with 215 million.
Her last full studio album was 2016’s ANTI, which remains one of her most acclaimed projects. Since then, she has released select tracks including “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022 and “Friends of Mine” for the 2025 Smurfs soundtrack.
Despite her long hiatus from albums, Rihanna has continued to dominate streaming and sales performance through her extensive catalogue of global hits, which continue to generate strong certifications years after release.
The singer has repeatedly addressed speculation about her long-awaited next album, saying in a 2025 interview that she feels “really good about it” and wants it to reflect her artistic growth.
Rihanna also previously explained that her new music will not follow traditional commercial expectations, hinting that it will not be “radio digestible” and will instead reflect a more evolved creative direction.
Her continued success comes amid heightened public attention on her personal life, including a recent security incident in which a woman was accused of firing a weapon at her Beverly Hills home, though no injuries were reported.
The suspect in that case, Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, has been charged with multiple felony counts, including attempted murder, and has already entered a plea in court proceedings.
