 " Instant Karma ! " was commercially successful , peaking at number 3 on America 's Billboard Hot 100 chart , number 2 in Canada , and number 5 on the UK Singles Chart . The single also reached the top ten in several other European countries and in Australia . The release took place two months before Paul McCartney announced the break @-@ up of the Beatles , whose penultimate single , the George Martin @-@ produced " Let It Be " , Lennon 's record competed with on the US charts . " Instant Karma ! " went on to become the first single by a solo Beatle to achieve US sales of 1 million , earning gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America on 14 December 1970 . Until Lennon 's death in December 1980 , " Instant Karma ! " remained his sole RIAA @-@ certified gold single . 
