Garth Brooks Says He Sold More Records Than Elvis Presley, But He's Still No King
Few artists can claim they've sold more records than the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, but this country superstar says that statistic doesn't tell the whole story.
Garth Brooks has reached a milestone few other musicians can match. However, that doesn't change his opinion about who remains music's greatest icon.
In an essay for The Times of London, Brooks shared details of a day in the life where he expressed what he's most thankful for, shared his thoughts on the music business, and the last thing he does each day.
Brooks reveals that his everyday life is pretty ordinary. He gets up early, spends time with his wife (Trisha Yearwood), tends to things around his Tennessee home, finds moments of gratitude, and ends his day with a prayer.
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However, the country icon differs from most country music stars, having sold a staggering 200M records. Brooks is the first and only artist to earn ten RIAA Diamond Awards, each representing an album certified at over 10 million copies sold. He also surpassed the King of Rock and Roll in total album sales.
He explains, "Even though I've sold a lot of records, I'm still a dreamer. That's my job."
"Apparently, I've sold more records than Elvis. So what? I'm not better than Elvis; no one is."
In 2017, Brooks shared more details of his love for Presley with The Commercial Appeal, "The greatest live long beyond their time here on earth. No matter what generation comes, he's always in style. That's Elvis."
The King of Rock and Roll's music has affected not only Brooks' life but also his three daughters. Graceland's official website shared a reflection of how Presley's music continues to span through generations.
"I'm sitting in the drive-through, and I've got my three girls (Allie, August, and Taylor) in the back, and this station comes on, and it's playing 'Jailhouse Rock,' the original version, and my girls are jumping up and down, going nuts. I'm looking around at them, and they've heard Dad's music all the time, and I don't see that out of them."
With a career that has often been measured against the King of Rock and Roll, Brooks says he continues to end each day with gratitude rather than comparison.
He told The Times, "I try to have a few words with the man upstairs before falling asleep. Sometimes I worry that I'm going to hell because I never feel I've done enough with the incredible gifts that he's given me. But if I do wake up tomorrow, hey, it's another opportunity to love somebody and to dream."
Garth Brooks is set to make his long-awaited return to the U.K. with a concert at London's Hyde Park on June 27. The performance marks his first live show in the country in nearly three decades.
Related: 1990 Beloved Garth Brooks Classic, Written on a Napkin, Is Ranked His Greatest Song Ever
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 6:38 AM.