Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack (with various artists) is the best-selling album credited to a woman.
The following albums, recorded by female solo artists and all-female groups, have sold at least 10 million copies. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, soundtracks, and remixes. Various artists albums are eligible for inclusion if a woman is credited as the main artist by record charts and certifying organizations. The figures given do not take into account the resale of pre owned albums.
The Bodyguard soundtrack by Whitney Houston (with various artists) is the best-selling album credited to a woman;[1] its sales are over 45 million copies since its release in November 1992.[2]Come On Over by Shania Twain is recognized by Guinness World Records as the biggest-selling studio album by a solo female artist with over 40 million copies.[1] Previous record holders of the best-selling album by a female artist include Carole King's Tapestry, and Whitney Houston's debut album as well Madonna with True Blue according to the Guinness World Records (1989 and 1992 editions, respectively).[3][4][5]Madonna also has the best-selling compilation album by a female artist (and solo artist) with The Immaculate Collection, which sold around 30 million copies.[6] Other notable appearances include Shakira, as the only Latino artist in the list thanks to her crossover album Laundry Service, and Hikaru Utada with First Love as the only Asian artist. Celine Dion has the only entirely non-English album with D'eux, which remains the best-selling French album of all time. The Spice Girls have the best-selling album by a girl group with Spice, while Mariah Carey has the best-selling Christmas album by a female artist with Merry Christmas. Whitney Houston' Whitney Houston remains the biggest-selling debut album of all time by a female artist. Britney Spears' …Baby One More Time is the best-selling debut album by a female teenage artist.
Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks, the highest being for claims of at least 40 million copies, and the lowest being for claims of 10 million copies. Albums are listed in order of number of copies sold and thereafter by the release year.[a]
List of albums
Key
*
Indicates a previous record holder of the best-selling music album by a woman
Madonna has nine albums on the list (1983–2005), more than any other artist.Celine Dion has seven albums on the list (1993–2002).Mariah Carey has seven albums on the list (1990–2005).Whitney Houston has six albums on the list (1985–2000).Janet Jackson has three albums on the list (1986–1993).Enya has three albums on the list (1988–2000).Shania Twain has three albums on the list (1995–2002).Britney Spears has three albums on the list (1999–2001).21 by Adele is the best-selling album by a female artist in the 21st-century.
before 1975 are required to have their claimed sales figures supported by 30% in certified units.
between 1975 and 1990 are required to have their claimed figures supported by 30–50% in certified units. (That is 1.33% for each additional year after 1975.)
between 1990 and 2000 are required to have their claimed figures supported by 50–60% in certified units. (That is 1% for each additional year after 1990.)
in 2000 and onwards are required to have their claimed figures supported by 60–80% in certified units. (That is 1.33% for each additional year after 2000.)
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