Top ten richest country singers.

[nw_hunter]

Ever wonder who the richest country singer was?
I couldn't believe it was Toby Keith??
A lot of these artists I don't even consider country. I guess my age is the factor
Today it's all about how they look and the most outrageous performance, not the singing ability of the artist.

I know some of you Texas western swing fans are going to disagree with me, but............George Strait?
The man can barely hold a note (give me a break)

These people on this list, couldn't carry the Hagg or the Possum's guitar case.

If you are a country music fan, you may be curious to know who makes the list of the top ten richest country singers. This list contains some talented artists in no particular order. Talent and hiring good financial advisors are the two keys in making it on the list of the top ten richest country singers.

   1. Toby Keith. Toby is considered the top of many lists when it comes to being the richest country music singer. The reason why is simple, Toby writes all of his own songs, which he records off his own recording label. Toby also makes a lot of money from his tours.
   2. Garth Brooks. You couldn’t have won all the awards that Garth has and not be considered one of the top richest country music artists. As for being retired, Garth keeps coming out of retirement for special performances, and his CDs keeps being re-released.
   3. Tim McGraw. Between his best selling tours, his acting performances and not to mention his special concerts with wife Faith Hill, Tim McGraw is a power house when it comes to country music.
   4. George Strait. Since George is considered the “King of Country Music” there is no doubt that he is also one of the richest country singers.
   5. Dolly Parton. Dolly has been performing top hits since the '60s. She also has performed in movies and owns her own theme park, Dollywood, making her the richest female country singer.
   6. Reba McEntire. With her long list of hit songs, it is estimated that this top selling country music artist and actress is the second richest female singer, next to only Dolly Parton.
   7. Faith Hill. Married to fellow recording artist Tim McGraw, Faith Hill is a rich country singer in her own right. Her recordings continually rank up the charts, her concerts are always filled to capacity and fans cheer every times she goes on tour.
   8. Brooks and Dunn. The singing duo annually made the top list of high paying country music artists. They kept their fans happy during their tours and every time they released a new recording. Only time will tell how they will fair after embarking on solo careers.
   9. Kenny Chesney. Kenny netted a lot of money during his last tour “The Flip Flop Tour."
  10. Brad Paisely. With songs that continue to climb the music charts such as “Waiting on a Woman,” and a collection of great videos and live concert performances, it is no wonder that Brad is on the list of richest country singers.

Posted on: Apr. 29, 2010

[Casull]

I know some of you Texas western swing fans are going to disagree with me, but............George Strait?
The man can barely hold a note  (give me a break)

Please.  Texas western swing fans indeed.  George Strait has more number 1 hits than ANY singer of any type of music.  You don't get that by appealing to Texas western swing fans.  You get that by appealing to the largest number of country music fans.  He IS the King of Country Music.  As for your age, I'm not going to ask, since George Strait has been putting up number 1 hits for 30 years.

[powderman]

I like the  older singers because they not only were  talented, they took pride in the way they presented themselves and dressed like ladies and gentlemen, not like the slobs today. POWDERMAN. 

[Casull]

I like the  older singers because they not only were  talented, they took pride in the way they presented themselves and dressed like ladies and gentlemen, not like the slobs today. POWDERMAN.   

That's not true of most of today's country singers, or of all of yesterday's.  After all, we're not talking about rap singers here.   

[SM Bob]

I'm not a huge Country music fan. I do like some of the music though. I will say this..
If you aren't good looking, you won't make it in that buisness.

                                 Robert

[nw_hunter]

I know some of you Texas western swing fans are going to disagree with me, but............George Strait?
The man can barely hold a note  (give me a break)

Please.  Texas western swing fans indeed.  George Strait has more number 1 hits than ANY singer of any type of music.  You don't get that by appealing to Texas western swing fans.  You get that by appealing to the largest number of country music fans.  He IS the King of Country Music.  As for your age, I'm not going to ask, since George Strait has been putting up number 1 hits for 30 years.

I know he isn't a traditional Western Swing singer, and He gets the sales by appealing to the young female crowd, that looks for someone that looks good in a cowboy hat and tight fittin jeans.They don't give a hoot if he can sing. The man has a mediocre voice, and anyone that knows anything about country music, knows he is average at best. Look at G Brooks, I think he places #2 or 3, and has a voice like Kermit the Frog. They have been blessed by Levi, Stetson, some good songwriters and  Like Elvis.............Young groupies!

But What the heck! More power to him........Great singer

[mauser98us]

I know he wasn't one of the richest,but I'm partial to Hank Thompson myself. He truly was the KIng of Western Swing.

[beerbelly]

hunter, I don't think you know what a voice is, George is great And although I don't personally like him, Garth Brooks has a great voice!
                           Beerbelly

[Casull]

hunter, I don't think you know what a voice is, George is great And although I don't personally like him, Garth Brooks has a great voice!
                           Beerbelly

+1    NW clearly doesn't know what a good voice is.  I remember watching one of Garth Brooks early appearances on Leno (I believe).  He sang "The Dance" accopella (sp?) and I was truly impressed by just how beautiful his voice was.  Now, I thiink he's a bit squirrely, but the man can certainly sing.

[Dee]

Haggard has always been my favorite, and I met George Jones many years ago in Denison Texas. He was drunk. I lean more toward guys like Haggard, Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, Billy Joe Shaver, and others that sing ballards of life, and what I consider to be real country. I remember when Toby Keith sang real country and dressed presentable. Now he looks like he's comin off a three day drunk. Brooks, has 2 or 3 I like, as does McGraw. Reba is Reba, as is Dolly, and as far as George Strait being able to sing. We should all be so lucky, but George writes almost never but, instead buys, or sing percentage deals with song writers. I don't know however the Western Swing thing comes in, because although he does a little of it, he doesn't do that much. Bob Wills is truly about Western Swing, and anyone from Texas can verify that.

[Casull]

I know he isn't a traditional Western Swing singer, and He gets the sales by appealing to the young female crowd

That would be a surprise to my hunting buddies (40 to 60 year old men).  

[magooch]

I'm not too surprised by the names stated on the top ten earners, but I do wonder if these are facts and how anyone really knows.  I would have thought that Allen Jackson would show up somewhere in there. 

As far as George Strait having a voice; I'd trade him any day.  He is super and he is for real country western. 

I don't know where she rates in wealth, but I'd rate Martina McBride at the top of the voice list for the gals.

[nw_hunter]

I'm not too surprised by the names stated on the top ten earners, but I do wonder if these are facts and how anyone really knows.  I would have thought that Allen Jackson would show up somewhere in there. 

As far as George Strait having a voice; I'd trade him any day.  He is super and he is for real country western. 

I don't know where she rates in wealth, but I'd rate Martina McBride at the top of the voice list for the gals.

Martina ain't bad, but if you want a pure, natural country girl singer, look no further than Patty Loveless.
Youtube up some G. Strait live performances, and listen to his flat, and off key sound. I'm telling you the man needs all the help he can get. Making the most money in the business, does not make one the best. Most of the truly great singers do it for the love of it, and so them have died penniless after giving the world the very best country music to listen to.

Texas has probably produced more great country artists than any other state. G Jones, Bob Wills, Willie, Waylon, Johnny Horton,Ernest T, my favorite Texas singer.....Gene Watson, and many, many more, but George Strait AIN"T one of them" IMHO" I will say this about him....He knows a lot of good song writers!



Todays so called country singers need the videos to sell their music. It's not about singing anymore.
If you like swinging across the stage on a rope, smashing guitars, and that sort of uh! entertainment, then the G Brooks type is your cup o tea!

[mauser98us]

Not that I like him,nor consider him country in any way,but Kenny Rogers in his heyday had to be one of the richest.Btw Waylon, Buck Owens and Tanya Tucker cut their boots straps here in Phoenix on their way to the top.Waylon was living in Chandler when he died a few years ago. Phoenix used to be a mecca for the nightclub scene in the late sixtie and seventies

[Dee]

nw_hunter, I would have to agree with you on Patty Loveless. He CD "Mountain Soul" is as good as it gets. She can grab you by the heart in that one.

[nw_hunter]

Not that I like him,nor consider him country in any way,but Kenny Rogers in his heyday had to be one of the richest.Btw Waylon, Buck Owens and Tanya Tucker cut their boots straps here in Phoenix on their way to the top.Waylon was living in Chandler when he died a few years ago. Phoenix used to be a mecca for the nightclub scene in the late sixtie and seventies

I like most kinds of music, and some of the cross over singers like K. Rogers are great singers. One of my favorite K Rogers songs, is "I Am The Greatest" About the little boy trying to hit the baseball. What a great tune, and one that brings back memories with most men thinking back on their childhood.

[Sourdough]

Marketing is the way to become the wealthiest.  Everything to make a buck.  Like Toby Keith, writes his own music, then records it in his own studio.  That way he gets 100% of all royalties. 

A lot of people don't understand how the system works.  Doyal Marsh wrote "Time of sands and shovels".  Doyal convinced Waylon to record it.  Was not one of Waylons biggest hits, in fact it just broke even by the time they paid the time for the recording studio, and to have the records pressed.  After those bills were paid, Doyal and Waylon both recieved almost nothing from the low sales.  Several years later Doyal, (who owned the rights to the music) got Roy Clark to record the same song.  Roy made it a hit.  Once the recording session and record pressing was paid, Doyal and Roy split the proceeds.  Every record that sold Doyal got and still gets a percentage of that record.  And when someone makes a Greatest songs of the whatever and that recording is included Doyal and Roy gets a percentage of that record/CD as well.  While a music star might have a number one hit, if he has to split that with a writer he does not make as much as a writer/singer like Toby Keith.

Johnny Cash learned the lessons of marketing right after he moved to Hendersonville, in the mid 60s.  He built his own recording studio, that way he got 100% of the royalties as well.

You see some good singers, but they never get going.  They will have a one hit, then fizzle.  Not because they are not good singers, but because they are concentrating so hard on making it they blow the marketing aspect.  Same with musicians, and everybody involved with the music industry.         

[MGMorden]

Sourdough: I agree 100% for stuff in the past (and even into the short term future), but I think we're starting to see a shift in the industry.  Online/digital sales are growing tremendously, and will eclipse retail physical sales very shortly (if they haven't already - been a while since I looked at sales).  Thing is, with digital distribution there is no record /cassette/cd to manufacture.   Strides in recording technology available to the average person have also made it relatively cost effective to record music at home.  Digital effects that were once a costly affair can be done for free on a computer.  Anyone with a desktop PC and a website can distribute their songs freely do the world.  Even if you wish to publish your songs on iTunes or the Amazon music stores you can still self publish and Apple or Amazon will pay royalties directly to you rather than to a record company.

Look at the boom in podcasting and "new media".  People doing podcasts are largely just a couple people at home with a microphone reaching audiences that once would have required a radio station and major funding to reach.  Music is going through the same phase.

I think marketing will always be important, but I think that the farther we move forward the less relevant record companies will become in that marketing, and we'll see even more artists doing their own work as far as getting out there.

As to the list up top - Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley are the only ones I'd care to listen to . 

[Dee]

Sourdough, I think your dead on with the marketing, however George Strait has stated many times that when he's home, he seldom picks up a guitar, and almost never writes. He has good handlers bringing him song demos, and the writers are scrambling to get him their songs. I doubt for the most part anyone really knows what any of these artists are really worth, cause they ain't sayin.

[Sourdough]

Dee:  I personally know many people in the music industry.  I was a studio musician for three years.  I played mostly for Monument Records.  Doyal Marsh was the band director at Hendersonville Hish, along with writing songs and music.  Doyle taught me how to play music and most of the insterments in the band. 

The people in the music industry that don't have money are always trying to make everyone think they have.  The ones that do have money live quitely, and often say they don't want to go here of there because it cost too much, they sort of shy away from extravagance.  Many of the people you would think would be well off are just scraping by, and putting up a big facade. 

I remember back in 1966 the widow woman living next door to George Jones and Tammy hired my younger brother to mow the grass on her lot.  They both had about one and a half acres right on the lake.  Tammy came over and asked what Jimmy charged to mow.  Jimmy told her, $20.00, Tammy said "That's too much".  She went back and told George to get out and mow the grass, she was leaving and she wanted to see a freshly mowed lawn when she returned.  She kept yelling and screaming till time for her to leave.  She was going to a show up in Kentucky somewhere, and would not be back for a couple of days. 

After she left, George came over and gave Jimmy $30.00 and said "I want it all done tomorrow".  Jimmy worked extra hard and took care of the lawn, and George came out when Jimmy was done and offered him a Coke and some pastries.  George offered to take Jimmy water skiing the next day, since he had done such a good job.  Jimmy asked if I could go along too, telling George that I drove the boat for some of the ski jumpers and that way he could ski as well.  George agreed, so the next day George, his kid, Jimmy, and I went water skiing.  Afterwards as we were tying up the boat the widow next door invited all of us over to her place.  She was having a cookout with lots of people out from Nashville.  She wanted Jimmy, myself and George's kid to come over and be company for the city kids.  George asked if she needed him to bring something, she said I'm running low on drinks.  George went into his garage and came out with a couple cases of Coke and a couple of bottles of booze.   We were having a blast jumping off the boat dock, and teaching and teasing the kids that was out from Nashville and was not familure with swimming in the lake.  Everything was going great till the witch came home, (I mean Tammy).  She came over yelling and screaming, calling people names, (appearently she did not like the widow lady) and the party sort if fizzled from there point. 

A few years later I learned to really dislike Tammy Wynette.  Found out she was not well liked in town by almost everyone.  Red Fowley could not stand her and neither could his stepson and my running partner Kinny.  I knew many artist because I went to school with their kids, and I worked for the record company.

[saddlebum]

THE HAG RULES !!!   We need more songs like, " The Fightin Side of Me"!! Strait is okay but used to be better. I met him in Longmont Colo. years ago at a fair. I went down there to see an aquaintance that played in Strait's warmup band. We got backstage passes and was introduced. Strait and Merle both used to sing better before they used cocaine and partied too much. Sorry rednecks, but that's the truth. Some of the best country songs ever written and sung were by Haggard. I thought Randy Travis was real good too. At least he was country. Strait really isn't texas swing just cause he sang a few swing songs. But he did them well. Just ask Dee, when it comes to western swing, "BOB WILLS IS STILL THE KING". I think they castrate men who say otherwise in Texas. (if they don't they should)  The Hag did western swing very well also. I think there is probably more country music comming out of Texas than there is out of Nashville......IMO

[dickttx]

I will never understand why, on every major highway coming into Texas there is not a statue of Bob Wills on one side of the road, a statue of Ernest Tubb on the other side and a statue of Lefty Frizzell atop a big arch over the road.

[saddlebum]

I think Garth Brooks stinks, but does anyone remember his first album? I thought he was really going to be something when I heard that first one. He went downhill in a hurry after that in my opinion. I saw him on Austin City Limits and thought he was real humble and nice but it all went to his head quick. I remember the song " Cowboy Bill", about an old Texas Ranger and a rodeo song that were real good. Too bad about that super rich pinhead.   

[Casull]

Strait and Merle both used to sing better before they used cocaine and partied too much. Sorry rednecks, but that's the truth.

"Truth" according to who?  I've never seen anything tying Strait to cocaine.   

[saddlebum]

Truth according to people that knew them and public record. They both got in some amount trouble for it. Its pretty well known about Haggard. He did rehab for that and other drug and maybe alcohol abuse. God bless him. Not so well known with Strait and not nearly so serious. He had some rough going for a while back in the 80s around the time his daughter died in a car accident. I can't remember details to good but the law got involved when they found cocaine on one of the tour buses. Can't remember for sure if it was Strait's personal bus or not. The guy I knew who knew Strait and toured with him didn't blab about it too much to me out of respect and such for Strait. Can't remember if he got arrested but he went to court. My impression was that he dodged the bullet. It was a long time ago. I have noticed the same thing with some other artist that sound great when they start out and after some time partying their voices change. Don't have the same great sound and tone quality they did before. Diminished range. Don't get me wrong. I think Strait is great. He has contributed alot to charities and even created one or more. He is a good man and I respect him. No reason to think any less of him for this past transgression.

I didn't spend much time looking for proof of my claim. But found this. Most of that kinda stuff gets talked about in the music circles. And probably very little to do with Strait cause he is a great guy and most likely as upstanding as can be for many years now.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Was_George_Strait_ever_linked_to_cocaine_use

[oldandslow]

Who is the richest country singer? Don't know, don't care. I had to listen to Bob "squeeky fiddle" Wills and ol' Ernest when I was a kid cause that was it on the radio. In my early teens things changed some and a few stations started carrying that stuff called rock and roll and that was it for me and most of my peer group. I have never contributed a dime toward making any of then rich.

One of the rock stations over in Lubbock, TX used to have a line  saying "That country crap is just a phase your Grandpa is going through". Not this Grandpa. Gimme ZZ Top, George Throughgood, etc. 

This post was just in fun. Listen to what you want and enjoy it . I do but it ain't country.



 

[no guns here]

Been to see Willy once... dressed like crap and had three foot long braids.  Most of his "singing" was actually more like "talking".  Saw George Jones once, he was drunk and gave one of the worst performances I have ever witnessed.  I am ashamed to have paid money for that show.  Saw Hank Jr, twice, once he was too drunk walk around on stage and second time wasn't much better.  On the other hand I saw Garth twice, once at Bull Run, Virginia and once in Oklahoma.  Sober, energetic and a great show.  I've seen George Strait three times.  Always sober, polite and a great show.  The only act I've seen that sounded close to his albums.  Saw Toby Keith twice, both times he was sober and put on a good show.  Even Jimmy Buffet was sober at his concert...  Vince Gill played unplugged at the Birchmere Theater in Virginia many years ago and had a great voice and played virtuoso level guitar, totally impressive.  Randy Travis was sober, and put on a great show years ago in Biloxi, Mississippi.  Based on my experience, I'd go with the newer breed of country artist over the old ones.

George Strait is my all-time favorite.  He has a style and a sound that appeal to me.  He must be doing something right.  He's been making #1's since the early 80's.

Talk about a guy that couldn't carry a tune in a bucket... Chris LeDoux.  But he's my second favorite of all time.  I regret never seeing him in concert.

Garth was great until he started making "statements" with his music.  As long as he was doing bar music he rocked...

Toby Keith just appeals to the red-neck in me.  Damn I'd like to party with him.  I haven't partied in years but I'd have to give it a go one more time.

Kenny Chesney sounds good but I think he appeal more to the ladies.

Trace Adkins is great too.  Ladies love him for his look and voice.  I like his songs.


I just don't care much for the female singers as far as "favorites".  There are some GREAT voices out there.  I never could stand Dolly and her warble.  Reba rocks but I don't own any of her music.  Have to agree about Patty Loveless' voice.  It's great.


Gotta go...

NGH

[Sourdough]

DEE: you are right about managers and handlers going out looking for music for people like George Strait, and many others.  Those people get a cut of the royalties and that cuts into the bottom line.

That is where people like Toby Keith is getting ahead.    That phylosophy started with Madonna.  She went to school and Majored in Marketing.  Then she went out and created what she thought the audiance wanted.  She handled everything herself, which was unheard of back then.  The music industry, even the Country/Western folks took notice.  Today more and more artist are following her example, and guys like George Strait, while making hits are falling behind in the marketing end of it.  Technically they are losing money.


On another note:
When in high school I was a member of the Hendersonville High School Band Of Gold.  Our band was made up of in a large part at that time of kids whose parents were in the music industry.  When the band needed to go on a trip to a parade or Bowl Game, parents like Boots Randolph, Johnny Cash, Billy Walker, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, would give a concert at the high school to raise money.  These parents would often convince others like Roy Orbason, Conway Twitty, and Loretta Lynn, to give appearances.  These concerts were real hits, and drew people from all over Middle Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Southern Kentucky.  All proceeds from these concerts went to the Band Boosters.

Back when I was a kid my folks forced me to go the the Opry at least once a month.  Sometimes we would go five or six weeks straight.  I hated the Old Ryman with it's wooden Church style seats.  Then every afternoon at 4PM to 6PM, ALL the TV stations in Nashville would have shows featuring Country singers.  The Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Show, The Jimmy Dean Show, The Bobby Lord Show, Country Junction, The Opry Corner, Tex Ritter had a show, Ralph Emmery (Kitty Wells Husband) hosted a show, Then there was always the specials that came on in the evening during prime time.  I was so emmersed in Country I hardly knew anything else existed till I was a teen, then my parents talked so bad about it I felt it was immorial to even listen to it.  I hated going to the Opry, and not being allowed to listen to any other kind of music so much I told myself I hated Country music.  When I left home I refused to listen to country till I was in my mid 30s.

[nw_hunter]

Back when I was a kid my folks forced me to go the the Opry at least once a month.  Sometimes we would go five or six weeks straight.  I hated the Old Ryman with it's wooden Church style seats.  Then every afternoon at 4PM to 6PM, ALL the TV stations in Nashville would have shows featuring Country singers.  The Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Show, The Jimmy Dean Show, The Bobby Lord Show, Country Junction, The Opry Corner, Tex Ritter had a show, Ralph Emmery (Kitty Wells Husband) hosted a show, Then there was always the specials that came on in the evening during prime time.  I was so emmersed in Country I hardly knew anything else existed till I was a teen, then my parents talked so bad about it I felt it was immorial to even listen to it.  I hated going to the Opry, and not being allowed to listen to any other kind of music so much I told myself I hated Country music.  When I left home I refused to listen to country till I was in my mid 30s.

Sounds like you had a great time growing up in that area Ralph Emmery would be a little young for Kitty Wells She was married to Johnny Wright "Of the Johnny&Jack duo"

I know when I use to listen to Emmery on WSM, he was married to Skeeter Davis. "Dang" Your draggin up some old memories

[Sourdough]

OK, I got it all wrong.  I called Mom she straightened me out on some of it.  Billy Walker was the one supposed to get on the plane with Patsy Cline, not Raplh Emmery.  What do I expect I was a kid then, and that was a long time ago.  Billy walker was the one glad he did not get on the plane.  I do remember something about Ralph, but Mom can not remember what it was, It was one of the scandals going around Nashville at the time.  I just remember hearing it, I was too young to really know what they were talking about.

You brought up another name.  Skeeter Davis, Ralph was her second husband.  Skeeter and my Mom both had standing appointments with Inez Copass (No relation with Cowboy) at her beauty shop in Madison to have their hair fixed every Friday afternoon.  Mom used to drag me to the Beauty Shop with her.  Inez would work on Skeeter first, then put her under the dryer.  Then Inez would work on Mom.  When Mom went under the dryer Skeeter would come out and get combed.  As I got a little older Inez would convince Mom to let me walk to Madison Square shopping center and get some Ice Cream at Woolworths.

Inez Copass was just visiting us here in North Pole, Alaska two weeks ago, and we talked about that very thing.  Inez still does my Mom's hair, same time, same place.  That's been fifty years.