Rihanna has reached another historic milestone, becoming the first woman to surpass 200 million RIAA singles certifications, further cementing her place among music’s most dominant hitmakers.
As of April 15, the global superstar has accumulated more than 200.5 million certified units, placing her third on the all-time list. Only Drake, with 277.5 million, and Morgan Wallen, with 215 million, rank ahead of her. The achievement stands out even more given that Rihanna has not released a full studio album in nearly a decade.
Her last album, ANTI, dropped in 2016 and marked a defining moment in her career. Since then, she has made selective returns to music, including her contribution “Lift Me Up” for the 2022 film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and “Friends of Mine” for the upcoming 2025 Smurfs project. Despite the limited releases, her catalog has continued to perform at a level few artists can match.
Rihanna has spoken openly about her long-awaited next album, explaining that the extended break has been intentional. In a 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she shared that she refused to release music that did not reflect her growth. She described the upcoming project as something that would not follow a specific genre and would stand apart from traditional expectations.
She emphasized that the time away from music needed to result in something meaningful, noting that she wanted the next release to reflect her evolution and justify the wait. According to her, the project will not be driven by commercial trends or radio expectations, but by authenticity and artistic direction.
Outside of music, Rihan na has also faced recent challenges. In March, a woman was accused of firing an AR-style rifle at her Beverly Hills home. While no one was injured, the incident drew attention after authorities charged the suspect, Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, with multiple felony counts, including attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm. She entered a plea on March 25 as the case moved forward.
Through it all, Rihanna’s influence in music continues to hold strong.
