According to Forbes Magazine, topping the list this year is country crooner Kenny Chesney whose estimated earnings of $65 million allowed him to depose last year’s number 1, Toby Keith. This year is said to be Chesney’s year, whose “Poets and Pirates” tour in 2008 stunned critics when he sold over 1 million tickets, even surpassing ticket sales for Madonna’s much vaunted “Sticky and Sweet Tour.” His success could be attributed to the fact that he often mingles with his fans and is viewed as easily accessible. In fact, this mass appeal even led to his endorsement deal with popular beer brand, Corona.

Coming in at the second spot is Rascal Flatts. In 2008, they had estimated earnings of about $60 million, primarily brought about by their high-grossing tour from last year. Critics attribute their success to their crossover appeal and uncanny ability to wow both country and mainstream fans—a feat which is not easily achieved within the industry. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, this group has indeed come a long way since they first had their hit, “Prayin’ for Daylight” back in 2000. More importantly, what pushed these guys to the second spot is their huge endorsement deal for popular apparel brand, JC Penney, whose American Living line of clothes has recently been launched in a massive tri-media campaign featuring Rascal Flatt’s “American Living.”

Third on the list is former No.1 Toby Keith. In 2008, he posted estimated earnings of around $52 million. Certainly, one cannot accuse Keith of slacking, what with the numerous ventures he has launched in recent years—his own apparel line (Toby Keith’s TK Steelman), a thriving acting career, his own record label, and even a chain of restaurants called “Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.” Earning a string of awards since 2002, Keith is certainly one of the most hardworking and prolific artists of his time.

The fourth top-earning artist is the only female to have broken through the top five, and she is just in her teens. Of course we are talking about Ms. Taylor Swift who rose from anonymity to superstardom in such a short career span. Earning $18 million as the biggest selling solo artist of 2008, all eyes will be on Swift to see if she can duplicate her initial success in the coming years.

Rounding off the list are Brooks & Dunn and Tim McGraw, both of whom have dominated the country music charts for many years. Brooks & Dunn’s “Cowboy Town” tour grossed almost $12 million and helped usher them to a fifth-place tie with Mc Graw. McGraw earned around $16 million mainly due to the strength of ticket sales for his latest tour.

]]> http://www.countrymusicblog.org/big-voices-and-big-bank-accounts-the-top-five-country-music-earners-of-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.countrymusicblog.org/country-stars-with-big-hearts/ http://www.countrymusicblog.org/country-stars-with-big-hearts/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:41:22 +0000 http://www.countrymusicblog.org/?p=21 Country musicians don’t just sing about big, big hearts anymore. The increasing acceptability of country music to a mainstream audience has provided country artists bigger and better opportunities not only for their music to be heard, but for their voices to be heard as well. More than ever country stars are using their fame as a platform to promote awareness for various kinds of advocacies. From breast cancer to community assistance, runaways and free shoes, country stars are not just singing about these dreary issues anymore.

Faith Hill is well-known for her charity organizations that aim to care for children and families in need. She does not just lend her image to an organization, she and husband Tim McGraw even donate the gate receipts from many of their concerts. Hill is an active supporter of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. She has provided her support to the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, Elevate Hope Foundation, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Tim meanwhile has been generous more than his money over the past years. Charities such as MusiCares, Musicians on Call, and the David Foster Foundation have benefited from his bigheartedness. His late father’s The Tug McGraw Foundation has a special place in Tim’s heart. Tug, who died from a brain tumor, established the organization in 2003 to raise funds for innovative brain tumor research. Since his father’s death in 2004, Tim has been more active in the foundation.

Children’s Miracle Network is an organization committed to raising money for children’s hospitals across the country. John Schneider is a co-founder. Country celebrities who have extended their support to the charity include LeAnn Rimes, who serves as their spokesperson, gospel star Amy Grant, and Tracy Byrd.

Singer-songwriter Jewel did not just use her voice to convince you to open your wallets, she gave her kiss away as well. Last November, Jewel, aided by other country artists like Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, and Jennifer Hanson, led an online auction for Mary Kay’s second annual “A Kiss for Country” campaign. Lip prints from many celebrities were auctioned off and the proceeds used in domestic shelters for throughout the US.

One of the world’s sexiest vegetarians, Carrie Underwood, has shared her time and talent to many organizations aimed to protect animals from cruelty. The Humane Society of the United States receives huge support from Underwood, as does PETA. Other animal lovers include Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, founder and president of Farm Aid.

Based in Okalahoma City, Oklahoma, Ally’s House was established in 2004 with the assistance of controversial country superstar Toby Keith. A former bandmate’s daughter named Ally died at just two years old to a form of kidney cancer. Keith hosts the Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic to raise money for the cancer patients, to help pay their medical bills, transportation, and other expenses incidental to the treatment of children with cancer. As of 2008, Keith’s efforts have helped raise more than $1.1 million for the organization.

The country music scene is filled with many successful marriages and relationships that seem to withstand the pressures of celebrity. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are one such example, as are Clint Black and Lisa Hartmann. For a while there, we thought Shania Twain and Mutt Lange were as solid as a rock. However, since they announced their separation last year, after 14 years of marriage, who really knows what goes behind closed doors?

It does not enter people’s mind as often as it did before, but Amy Grant caused such an uproar in 2000 when she married Vince Gill, just a year after her divorce from singer-songwriter Gary Chapman, her husband of 16 years. Grant, a multiple Grammy winner, is a well-loved gospel singer and crossover artist. Her revelation that she planned to wed Gill, a longtime collaborator, shocked the Christian community, as well as many of her other followers. Nonetheless, Grant and Gill married and now have a daughter named Corrina.

Gill himself experienced a failed marriage before finding love with Grant. He married Sweethearts of the Rodeo member Janis Gill in 1980 and divorced 13 years later in 1993.

Longevity is never a perfect indicator of a marriage’s success. In 1998, country musician Anne Murray separated from her husband Bill Langstroth after 23 years of marriage. Although they remained “the best of friends,” many were understandably shocked at the announcement.

Even stars who are not yet well-established stars are finding that maintaining a relationship under the spotlight is very demanding. American Idol finalist Bucky Covington, who has enjoyed moderate success in the country scene since his elimination from the show, separated in 2007 from his wife Crystal. “This is a difficult time for both of us, and I would ask that everyone respect our privacy,” Covington said in a statement issued by Lyric Street Records. With no children from the marriage, one wonders if it was the fame that caused a rift in the seven-year marriage.

Of course, nobody starts out in any relationship knowing what will happen. Everybody does hope that it will be forever. Dixie Chick’s Emily Erwin and singer-songwriter Charlie Robison sure wanted it badly. However, even with three children, Robison filed for divorce in January 2008 citing that their “marriage had become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities.”

For every successful couple, there are many others whose relationships crumble. Should we expect more from our country artists? They who sing about never-ending love, family values, sacrifices, and hurts caused by cheating? Though we’ll never know, don’t be shocked when that couple you are so happy for decide that separation is the truest answer to their problems.