Tate Mcrae Earns RIAA Gold for "I Used To Think I Could Fly"

Canadian singer-songwriter Tate Mcrae's debut studio album, I Used To Think I Could Fly, has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The certification, dated October 6, 2025, recognizes 500,000 units in the United States. Released on May 27, 2022, via RCA Records, the album marked a significant milestone in the pop artist's burgeoning career.

Upon its release, I Used To Think I Could Fly achieved immediate commercial success, landing at No. 1 on Spotify's Global Top Albums Debut Chart and charting in the Top 10 in multiple countries. The album explores themes of heartbreak and emotional turmoil, which McRae stated was encapsulated by the penultimate track, "go away." According to McRae, the song, which details the struggle of being unable to move on from a past relationship, "summarises the album."

A native of Calgary, Tate McRae first gained prominence as a dancer before transitioning into a globally recognized singer and songwriter. Her breakthrough came with the 2020 single "you broke me first," which is now certified 5x Platinum and has amassed over 2.5 billion streams. Her career has continued on an upward trajectory, with a Platinum-certified sophomore album, THINK LATER (2023), and a third album, So Close To What, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. McRae has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being named Artist of the Year at the 2024 and 2025 JUNO Awards and featured on Forbes' 2021 30 Under 30 list as its youngest musician.