As fans continue to eagerly await Rihanna's long-awaited ninth studio album, affectionately dubbed "R9," the global superstar reached a new milestone that highlights her enduring popularity despite not having released an album since 2016's Anti . On Wednesday, the music chart tracking account @chartdata on X (formerly Twitter) revealed that Rihanna sold over 1 million total album units in the United States in 2024 alone. Remarkably, the account noted that she is the only artist to achieve this feat without releasing an album in the 2020s.
Upon seeing the impressive stats, Rihanna couldn't help but respond with her signature sense of humor. The 36-year-old singer and businesswoman shared a GIF of herself pulling her ponytail with a smirk, followed by a big smile. The playful reaction quickly went viral, racking up over 10 million views and likes from her devoted fans, who are patiently waiting for a new album.
While Rihanna has remained tight-lipped about details of the highly anticipated album, she has occasionally teased its progress, further fueling excitement among her Navy fanbase. On Monday , ET's Kevin Frazier spoke to the GRAMMY-winning superstar during the launch of Fenty Hair at Nya Studios in Los Angeles, California. Rihanna gave an update on her upcoming album and shut down the latest rumors about her music, which began when she was spotted in New York City with A$AP Rocky sporting a T-shirt that read: "I'm Retired .
" "People got triggered with that retired word," .
