Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Highest-Paid Country Artists of 2019

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

This year Forbes released their list of the highest-paid celebrities. We look upon the list of names for country singers. Some  increased their earnings while some, fell off the list.

Image result for forbes taylor swift highest-paid
Forbes highest-paid celebrities. Photo via independent.ie

Let us take a look at it.

Country Artists and Country-related Celebrities on the Forbes List of Highest-Paid

Taylor Swift

Although she is now known for her hit pop songs like “You Need to Calm Down” and “Me!,” Taylor Swift began her career as a country singer, too. She made it to the top of the Forbes list with a total earning of $185. Most no longer consider her as a country artist, but we’d still  like to mention her on the ground that Swift still loves her country roots.

Jimmy Buffett

Like Swift, Jimmy Buffett is not also a pure country singer. He had some songs that made an appearance on the country chart, but he was not only fixated to one genre. He is best known for his song “Margaritaville.” He also collaborated with other country singers such as Alan Jackson. In the Forbes ranking, Buffett sits at the 57th spot.

Luke Bryan

In 2018, Luke Bryan was on top of the list of the highest-paid country artists at $52M. This year, he still owns the crown as he is still ahead on ranking compared to other country artists. However, his total earning slipped down to $42.5M. In the Forbes list, he ranked number 78.

Zac Brown Band

The band was number 4 on the list of country artists with the highest yearly income. They have a total earning of $31M. Noetheless, 2019 seems to be working for them as the band has now moved two steps higher on the list. They defeated Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. This year, the band earned a total of $38.5M and ranked number 95 on the Forbes list of highest-paid celebrities.

Last Year’s Country Artists on the List

  • Luke Bryan, $52 million.
  • Garth Brooks, $45.5 million.
  • Kenny Chesney, $37 million.
  • Zac Brown Band, $31 million.
  • Blake Shelton, $28 million.

Latest Stories

Willie Nelson beams while playing guitar on stage at 91 years old, embodying the joyful energy and simple, healthy habits that keep him thriving and touring into his ninth decade.

Willie Nelson’s Secret to Staying Healthy and Raising Hell at 91

Willie Nelson isn’t just alive at 91 — he’s still out there touring, playing shows, and living harder than guys half his age. Most people slow down. Willie just found ...

John Denver smiles alongside his three children—Zachary, Anna Kate, and Jesse Belle—in a cherished family photo, representing the legacy they continue to carry forward today.

Who Are John Denver’s Children and Where Are They Now

John Denver’s music filled millions of homes with hope, love, and an aching appreciation for the simple beauty of life. After his tragic death in 1997, his greatest legacy lived ...

A massive American flag waves proudly above a Camping World RV Sales store in North Carolina, symbolizing the patriotism behind CEO Marcus Lemonis' decision to close the store rather than remove the flag.

Camping World CEO Shuts Down North Carolina Store After Standoff Over Giant American Flags

Marcus Lemonis could have taken the flags down. Instead, he shut the store down. The Camping World CEO announced he was closing one of his Greenville, North Carolina dealerships after ...

Willie Nelson wearing a red bandana and denim jacket, reflecting on his journey from rejection in Nashville to becoming a country music icon on his own terms.

Nashville Tried to Break Willie Nelson but He Rebuilt Music City His Own Way

Before Willie Nelson became a country music legend, Nashville almost broke him. In the late 1960s, the young songwriter struggled to find his place in a city that didn’t quite ...

Tim McGraw stands onstage holding a microphone, wearing a black cowboy hat and dark shirt, ready for his 2025 comeback after recovering from multiple surgeries.

Tim McGraw Is Set to Return to the Stage After Multiple Surgeries

After a year that nearly sidelined his career, Tim McGraw is finally stepping back into the spotlight — and carrying a lot more than just a guitar onto that stage. ...

Garth Brooks, Clay Walker, and Trisha Yearwood—three of country music’s best-selling stars of the 1990s—pictured in a collage, representing the artists who defined the decade and left lasting legacies in the genre.

Seven Best-Selling Country Artists of the 1990s and Where They Ended Up

Before TikTok stars, before country-pop collaborations took over the charts, the 1990s were when country music roared louder than ever. Garth Brooks outsold rock bands. Shania Twain didn’t just go ...

Lulu Roman, dressed in her signature red dress and straw hat, shares a joyful moment on the Hee Haw set—a snapshot of the comedic brilliance and heart that made her a television icon and gospel favorite, now remembered fondly following her passing at 78.

Lulu Roman Who Made America Laugh on Hee Haw Has Died at 78

Country music lost one of its brightest and most beloved voices this week. Lulu Roman, the comic firecracker who made America laugh on Hee Haw and later touched hearts as ...

Side-by-side photo of Zach Top and Alan Jackson both wearing cowboy hats and sporting mustaches, sparking playful father-son comparisons online.

Zach Top Just Dropped a Pic With Alan Jackson and It’s Giving Father-Son Vibes

Zach Top just posted a photo with Alan Jackson, and the internet isn’t asking questions anymore—they’re calling it blood. In what feels like country music’s most persistent and hilarious rumor, ...

Zach Top smiles while proudly holding his ACM New Male Artist of the Year trophy, dressed in a red-striped western shirt and black cowboy hat.

Zach Top Wins ACM New Male Artist of the Year and Country Might Just Be Back on Track

For once, an award show actually listened. The Academy of Country Music handed out its New Male Artist of the Year trophy ahead of the main ceremony, and they got ...

Kellie Pickler stands beside her late husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs, smiling together before their tragic family dispute made headlines.

Kellie Pickler’s Court Battle With Her Late Husband’s Family Fully Explained

What started as a family tragedy has now become a tense legal showdown. More than a year after country singer Kellie Pickler lost her husband, Kyle Jacobs, she’s locked in ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.