“Old Town Road” is the first song in 22 years to achieve diamond certification while number-one
Lil Nas X might just have one of the biggest hits of all time on his hands.
In case it wasn't already obvious, we're going to be hearing "Old Town Road" at every wedding and bar mitzvah for the rest of our lives. Today, Lil Nas X etched a new milestone when his breakout single achieved diamond certification, signifying that streams and sales of the track have moved 10 million equivalent units. Additionally, Lil Nas X is the first artist to reach the diamond tier while the single is still number one on the Hot 100 since Elton John's "Candle In The Wind" became the first diamond hit ever in 1997.
As Forbes points out, "Candle In The Wind" was the only diamond single until 2013, when Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie,” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Justin Bieber and Ludacris’ “Baby” entered the pantheon due to streaming. In the time since, a number of singles have been added — most recently, the Weeknd's "The Hills," which was certified days ago.