The Wealthiest Country Music Stars Are Singing All The Way To The Bank
Americans love their country music. Depending on where you live, it is one of the most widely-listened-to genres that has contributed to the success and riches of popular artists like Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood. These stars and others have topped country charts and won numerous awards, all while raking in big bucks.
Some have even used their wealth to invest and explore other business ventures. One artist on this list owns a biscuit company, while another and her husband joint-own an entire NFL team. Read on to find out who these people are and what makes them the wealthiest artists in country music!
Billy Ray Cyrus's Career Moves "Achy Break" The Bank
Billy Ray Cyrus' career may have been relaunched with the explosion of his daughter Miley's but the country singer is a success in his own right. Initially known for his 1992 smash "Achy Breaky Heart," Cyrus because a multi-platinum-selling recording artist and an actor to boot.
It's hard to say whether his $20 million fortune comes from his show business ventures or his music career, but either way, Cyrus has enough going on to keep his bank account packed.
Miranda Lambert Pours Wine Like She Pours Her Heart Into Her Music
Miranda Lambert may have finished in third place on USA Network's Nashville Star but she has come a long way with three Grammy Awards, 29 Academy of Country Music Awards, and so much more. She has empowered fans with her hits like "The House That Built Me" and "Heart Like Mine."
Outside of country music, Lambert has used her $60 million net worth to venture into the wine business. She owns and operates a winery that produces her signature line of wines called Red 55.
Shania Twain Is A $400 Million Queen
Shania Twain is the "Queen of Country Pop," a title she has earned after selling over 100 million records and gaining five Grammy Awards. Among the best-selling music artists of all time, she is the only female artist in history to have three consecutive albums certified Diamond, according to the RIAA.
Not only has Twain appeared on numerous television shows but she's also endorsed Febreze, has her own fragrances with Coty, and so much more! It's no wonder she's worth a whopping $400 million.
Alan Jackson Invested In His Daughter
Alan Jackson came onto the country scene in the early '90s with his first number one hit, "I'd Love You All Over Again," which is on his debut album Here in the Real World. Since then, he's made many more albums and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Part of Jackson's $150 million fortune is attributed to endorsement deals with Cracker Barrel and Ford Motor Company. He's invested some of his wealth into NaSHEville, a movement started by his eldest daughter Mattie to serve women and children in need.
Toby Keith Sells His Own Booze At His Restaurants
Toby Keith is undoubtedly one of the most successful country artists in the world. The Oklahoma native has earned seven awards from the Academy of Country Music for his work, which includes 21 studio albums and 20 number one hit singles.
His $365 million net worth isn't all attributed to his music, either. Not only does he own his own music label, Show-Dog Universal, but he also has his own brand of mezcal called Wild Shot, in addition to a chain of restaurants called Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.
Faith Hill's Financial Future Relies On An NFL Team
Faith Hill has been in the industry long enough to be considered something of a country music legend worth $200 million. Not only has she constantly topped country charts, become a successful crossover artist with hits like "Breathe" and "The Way You Love Me," earned five Grammy's and six AMAs, but she's also married to fellow country legend Tim McGraw.
Hill and McGraw have invested some of their wealth into the NFL's Tennessee Titans and it is rumored that a huge chunk of their financial future rests in the team's success. While Hill is partly responsible, it's McGraw who is involved in the team's management.
Dwight Yoakam Put His Money In The Biscuit Business
Dwight Yoakam didn't find success until he left Nashville for Los Angeles, where his honky-tonk style was more accepted among rock and punk rock crowds. Back in the '80s, he self-financed his EP Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. which later was re-released by Reprise Records and spawned his first two hit singles: a cover of Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk Man" and his own "Guitars, Cadillacs."
Yoakam's $45 million net worth has led him to invest in Bakersfield Biscuits, a company he started with the famed Biscuit Boy. They distribute their brand of buttermilk biscuits to grocers and retailers such as Wal-Mart.
Lyle Lovett Does Shakespeare And Reins Horses
Lyle Lovett has been in the country music industry since the '80s, recording 14 albums and releasing 25 singles that have earned him four Grammy Awards. Outside of music, Lovett has forged a formidable acting career starring in films such as The Player and in a production of Much Ado About Nothing by The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles.
Balancing his recording career with his acting career, it's no wonder that Lovett's projects have racked up a $25 million net worth. He invests some of that money into a Quarter Horse he co-wons and competes in reining competitions with.
Trace Adkins Leads With His Voice
Trace Adkins released his debut album, Dreamin' Out Loud, in 1996. It became the first of 12 studio albums that included his number-one hits "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing," "Ladies Love Country Boys," and "You're Gonna Miss This." His signature bass-baritone voice has also led him to do voice-overs for KFC, Firestone, and on King of the Hill as Elvin.
His music and voice-over career were the perfect primers for his own SiriusXM radio show in which he counts down Billboard's Top 30 country songs from various years. Adkins proved he knows how to make big bucks on The Celebrity Apprentice and its All-Stars season, which is why his net worth is $19 million.
Keith Urban Got Fat Paychecks From American Idol
Keith Urban found platinum success in America with his first number-one hit "But for the Grace of God" in 1999 after charting four singles from his self-titled debut in Australia. He's had ten more number-one singles over his career, in which he's also earned four Grammy Awards so far. His $75 million net worth isn't all attributed to his music, however.
From 2012 to 2016, Urban has served as a judge on American Idol where his paycheck for one season was a reported $6 million, according to The Associated Press. Much of his wealth, combined with wife Nicole Kidman's, is invested into their properties in Nashville, Beverly Hills, and Sydney.
Carrie Underwood's Activewear Line Was Built On Her Success
Carrie Underwood rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol and that was only the beginning of her phenomenal success. With eight Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, and so many more, Underwood has proven herself as one of the most successful crossover country artists with hits like "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats."
Underwood, of course, has many endorsements but her fitness apparel brand CALIA has to be the one she's most proud of. She's invested some of her $140 million net worth into the fitness clothing line sold at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Reba Manages Herself With Her Own Money
Reba McEntire has spent over 40 years in show business. After transitioning to a traditional country sound, she hit a breakthrough in 1984 with two number-one singles, "How Blue" and "Somebody Should Leave." Since then she's released over 30 studio albums and has had a successful career in film, television, and Broadway.
Some of her $95 million net worth is invested into Reba's Business Inc., which she started after she became her own manager and took control of her career. She recruited experts in show business who've been with her for over ten years.
Rosanne Cash Puts Her Money To Good Work
Rosanne Cash may be the eldest daughter of Johnny Cash but she doesn't need that serious country music pedigree to prove herself as an artist. She had a breakthrough hit in 1981 with "Seven Year Ache" and has since been known for blending country with folk, pop, rock, blues, and Americana.
Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and garnering a net worth of $10 million, Cash has invested some of that fortune into charity. She is a board member of The Center To Prevent Youth Violence and sponsors many children and young adults through Children, Incorporated.
Kenny Chesney Constantly Sells Out Stadiums
Kenny Chesney's net worth is estimated to be at $180 million. Over the course of his career, he has produced over 40 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot Country chart and at least 30 of them have made it to number one.
Four of his six Academy of Country Music Awards were consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards. Chesney's country star power frequently sells out all the venues he plays at, with 2007's Flip-Flop Summer Tour being his most lucrative. Outside of music, Chesney also co-directed and produced ESPN's The Boys of Fall.
Blake Shelton Invests In Hospitality
Blake Shelton's debut single "Austin" spent five weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and his career was only getting started. The nine-time Grammy Award nominee has 12 albums and has headlined many concert tours so far, but music isn't the only thing that built his $100 million net worth.
He's known throughout pop culture as a judge on multiple singing competitions such as The Voice, Nashville Star, and Clash of the Choirs. He invests some of that wealth into Ryman Hospitality, which owns and operates a number of real estate properties and stadiums.
Garth Brooks Spent His Money On His Own Label
Garth Brooks is arguably the greatest country singer of his time. Seven of his 16 albums have achieved Diamond status in the U.S., not to mention he is the proud owner of two Grammy Awards and 17 American Music Awards.
Over the course of his 30-year career, Brooks has amassed a $400 million net worth, some of which he's invested into his own record label, Pearl Records. He also formerly established the online music store GhostTunes, until it was bought out by Amazon Music.
Loretta Lynn's Ranch Is The Seventh Largest Attraction In Tennessee
Loretta Lynn has been in the country music industry for nearly 60 years. She has written over 160 songs and released 60 albums. Hits like "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)," "One's on the Way," and "Coal Miner's Daughter" have resonated with country fans for years.
She has a modest net worth of $65 million, with which she owns and operates her own ranch that is a big attraction in Tennessee with museums, lodging, restaurants, shopping, and even a recording studio.
Darius Rucker Is Dabbling In The Realm Of Sports
Darius Rucker is known as the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish but he has also made a name for himself as a solo country artist starting in 2008. His debut single "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" reached number one, making him the first black artist to top the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart since Charley Pride in 1983.
Rucker's prolific music career has garnered him a net worth of $12 million. With that money, he has become a partner in MGC sports, which represents golfers, football players, and coaches.
Alison Krauss Has More Grammys Than Anybody On This List
Alison Krauss is perhaps the most prolific artist in the bluegrass-country genre. Not only can she sing, but she also plays the fiddle, the mandolin, and the piano. She has earned 27 Grammy Awards over the course of her career from 42 nominations, making her the most awarded female in Grammy history. She has also appeared on the soundtracks for O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain, for which she performed at the 2004 Academy Awards.
One might venture to say that Krauss is the most talented and successful artist on this list, which is why she has a net worth of $16 million.
