The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) crowns any song or album that’s gone Platinum ten times as Diamond – meaning it’s sold 10 million units in the United States.

Once an elusive accomplishment, the inclusion of streaming figures in its calculation for the certification has seen the number of songs that have achieved the status skyrocket.

Yet, despite 110 songs owning a Diamond plaque over the RIAA’s 70-year history, less than 1% have been bestowed to Black female singers – a count that grew recently thanks to Pop diva Rihanna.

Details inside.

On May 12, the RIAA awarded Rihanna a record-boosting Platinum certification for ‘Dancing in the Dark’ – her contribution to the soundtrack to the 2015 film ‘Home‘ (of which she also starred).  Her 44th plaque of this stature, she extends her title as the most-Platinum awarded Black female of all time.

Among all female acts, she is only outpaced by Taylor Swift (who currently owns 49 Platinum hits).

Just two weeks before that, Rih celebrated the capture of her first Diamond plaque thanks to 2011’s ‘We Found Love.’

The historic move put the 35-year-old in unique company as she’s only the third Black female songstress, following powerhouse divas Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, to boast ownership of a Diamond plaque for a single.

Carey was the first Black female vocalist to open the door to the exclusive club in late 2021 when her perennial hit, ‘All I Want for Christmas,’ also became the first Diamond-certified holiday single. At present, the yuletide classic sits in a three-way tie for ‘highest-certified female hit’ overall.

Houston followed just weeks later when her timeless classic, ‘I Will Always Love You,’ broke ground in the sales territory.

Unlike Rih, however, Houston and Carey also have Diamond LPs – putting them in a separate and even more exclusive club of female singers who have both Diamond singles and albums.

Among all Black female acts, Houston, Carey, and Rihanna join rappers Nicki Minaj and Cardi B as the only Black women to have at least one Diamond-certified single.

It’s worth noting that while Janelle Monae was attached as a featured act to Fun.’s 2011 Diamond-certified smash, ‘We Are Young,’ the RIAA only credits song certifications to a tune’s leading act.  As such, she is currently excluded from the exclusive list.

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