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Bebe Rexha's 'Meant to Be' earns diamond certification in US, fans hail 'song of the century'

Only 34 songs in history have been certified diamond by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)

Bebe Rexha's smash hit 'Meant to Be' has received diamond certification on Monday, August 17 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This new achievement marks the first time the singer-songwriter, who has previously earned platinum and gold, has received diamond certification for her songs.

'Meant to Be' is a song recorded by Bebe Rexha and features American country music duo Florida Georgia Line. The track is from Rexha's third EP 'All Your Fault: Pt. 2' and later included in her debut studio album 'Expectations' which released in 2018. An artiste usually with a focus on pop music, 'Meant to Be' saw Rexha crossing over into a country sound.

Since its release, 'Meant to Be' has received great public and critical acclaim. It was nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. For its chart impact, the song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Many fans were quick to congratulate Rexha on her special achievement, calling the song "A timeless bop" and "song of the century" and a "smash hit."

One fan said, "Bebe underrated queen," while another wrote, "bebe rexha = f**king legend."

According to Billboard, Rexha said of the song, "I have always respected the country genre and, growing up in New York City, I knew of [country] artists that had crossed over to the pop side, like Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks and Taylor Swift. I never thought a New York girl like me would have a country hit, but I guess it goes to show you that some things are just... meant to be." She continued, "When we wrote the song, Tyler was just doing what he does best with his country roots and I was doing what I knew best with my roots. We were just being true to ourselves." She noted, "The meaning is simple and honest, and that's why I think it's resonating with the world. The beautiful thing about music is that it allows you to break boundaries, and that's what I want to be remembered for: breaking boundaries."

For a song to receive diamond certification, it has to move at least 10 million equivalent units by combining sales and streaming numbers on platforms such as iTunes or Spotify. Only 34 songs in history have been certified diamond by the RIAA. With headquarters in Washington D.C., the Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legally sold recorded music in the United States".