Leon Bridges has landed a new certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Grammy winner’s 2018 single “Bad Bad News” has been certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 equivalent units.
The swaggering song, produced by Ricky Reed and Nate Mercereau, is the second title from Bridges’ sophomore album, Good Thing, to receive an RIAA award.
Before this, “Beyond,” the third single from the album, achieved platinum status in August 2021. The certification level reflects equivalent sales of more than one million.
The album itself, Good Thing, which was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 61st Grammy Awards, was certified gold in November 2023.
Circling back to “Bad Bad News,” it has over 100 million Spotify streams, earning the runner-up spot as the second most-played song from Good Thing on the platform. Leading the streaming pack is “Beyond,” which has 361 million streams at publication time.
Bridges recently released “Peaceful Place,” the first single from his fourth album, Leon, due Oct. 4 via Columbia Records. The song, produced by Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, was released alongside a video directed by Joshua Moore.
Regarding his forthcoming album, Bridges says, “Leon has been a long time coming. I started writing pieces of it as far back as Gold-Diggers Sound.”
“They didn’t fit what I was trying to do with that album and I tried moving on. But I couldn’t shake them because they’re part of me. And, if I’m honest, also because I think this is some of my most excellent work yet.”
Bridges also shares that his new album draws heavily from his upbringing and Texan roots.
“In many ways, Leon has been in the works since my childhood. This record is about simpler days. It’s about time spend in my beloved Fort Worth and the experiences that made me the man I am today,” Bridges explained.
“It’s soulful music in the truest sense – it’s imbued with my soul. I’m excited to share these stories about my home, about nostalgia, about my upbringing, about where I’m from, with all of you. I hope this music brings you back to your roots and your journey.”
Leon will be Bridges’ first full-length original LP since Gold-Diggers Sound in 2021 and his first project following the collaborative effort, Texas Moon, with Khruangbin in February 2022.
In other news, Bridges will headline the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. He is set to perform on Friday, Oct. 4 and Friday, Oct. 11 as part of the two-weekend event. Tickets are available at aclfestival.com.
Revisit Leon Bridges’ “Bad Bad News” below.