Over the past 2 decades, we’ve heard a lot more about the dangers of excess waste in our society. As we rapidly start increasing our population numbers, and the amount of goods we consume on a daily basis, the total amount of trash that we create (whether organic or inorganic) rises rapidly every year. While addressing this issue from a manufacturing point of view is helping us put more ethical and biodegradable products on the shelves and in our homes, the fact of the matter is that that stuff still has to be processed when we throw it away.

If you live in a more forward thinking area or are lucky enough to have a suburban composting heap on your street, you’ll know all about how rewarding composting organic waste can be for your gardens or your neighborhood. But the one thing people often tend to forget about when composting is nature’s little decomposers.

No, I’m not talking about bacteria – but rather bugs! We all know that bugs and insects are an important part of a healthy and sustainable ecology – but anyone who’s seen the critters that hang out at dumpsters will know how disgusting they can be as well. Cockroaches are a suburban and urban nightmare for some and the mere sight of one can cause shrill screams the world over.

They’re often associated with poor housekeeping, bad hygiene, infestation and generally result in a call to the exterminator. But in China, they’ve totally flipped the idea of the cockroach on its head. Rather than poisoning them, they’re farming them!

The idea came about when Shandong Qiaobin Agricultural Technology Co. developed a cockroach based processing plant to handle bio-organic waste. Rather than immediately turn the food waste into compost (a much slower process), the company has just over a billion caged cockroaches which are fed tons of food waste every day. After being digested by the roaches, the waste is easier to compost and on top of that, the cockroaches are eventually killed and used as pig-feed.

The company says that they hope to roll out more facilities like this in future, as waste-processing is not only important ecologically, but has become a viable private business model. Smaller cockroach facilities are starting to pop-up all around the country and will likely become a steady source of income for private investors, as well as a huge boost to the agricultural sector, hopefully keeping food prices under control.

Country music is more than just gravel roads, ripped jeans and broken hearts and these incredible net worths of country singers are proof that there is lot’s of money to be made producing country hits.

Lee Ann Womack was signed as an artist in 1996 and shortly after released her first record. However, it was her second album, I Hope You Dance, that catapulted her to new heights of fame. The record sold millions of copies and even topped the contemporary chart in addition to the country chart. Womack would continue to make music that was considered crossover for several more years. She only returned to traditional country music in 2005 with the release of There’s More where That Came From.

If you’re into country music, then Linda Ronstadt should be on the list of your favorites. Ronstadt, an 11-time Grammy Award winner, started singing at the tender age of 14 with her brother Peter and sister Suzy; their band was called ‘The Three Ronstadts’, and mostly performed in cafes and other small locations. Since then, Ronstadt released more than 120 albums, which sold more than 100 million copies around the world. BornRich estimates her net worth to be approximately $115 million… impressive, Linda!

If there’s anyone who knows how to rock a cowboy hat just right, it’s Chesney. Of course, he has a plethora of other talents, including his ability to remain a totally normal person even after reaching super stardom and a net worth of $56 million! Chesney, who has many chart-topping albums and songs, enjoys hobbies other than music, for example, he’s very active in various charities. Most recently he has worked with the V Foundation, which helps to find a cure for cancer and help children affected by the disease.

Nowadays, Blake Shelton is known better for his relationship with Gwen Stefani and a stint as a judge on The Voice rather than his music, but have no doubt that he’s still cranking those hits out. In March of 2016, he released his single Came Here To Forget which did very well and starting on February 16th, he’ll begin headlining the Do It To Country Songs Tour. Shelton also had a part in the popular movie Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015 as a judge, and the Angry Bird’s movie in 2016.

Born and bred in Delhi, Louisiana, Tim McGraw became a country legend after releasing multiple platinum albums and marrying country superstar Faith Hill. McGraw started making the big bucks following the release of his 2010 album Emotional Traffic, in addition to a profitable tour and the release of his own cologne line which has become a best seller. McGraw and his wife Faith Hill are also philanthropists and organize fundraisers for local Tennessee communities. Most notably one which benefited victims of the Tennessee flood in June of 2010. McGraw’s ability to stay humble and kind in spite of the fact he’s sitting on a whole lot of money, (and by a lot we mean $85 million), is exactly why we love him.

Crystal Gayle, best known for her hit song “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”, was one of the most influential country singers of the 70s and 80s. Gayle was the first female artist to reach platinum sales with her “We Must Believe In Magic” album in 1977. Gayle is currently working on her latest album, which is exciting considering she hasn’t released an album in 13 years! This is in honor of the 40th anniversary of her first platinum album. According to AskNetWorth, Gayle’s net worth is $10 million.

Oh, how we love Dolly. Not for her money or the fact that she’s so well endowed, but her for her many contributions to country music and the music industry as a whole. Not only did Parton break down the walls for the woman in the country music industry during a time when it was mostly male-run, but she was also was great at it! Parton has won many awards and has been inducted into all of the halls of fame that exist for country singers, but her biggest claim to fame is what sits in her bank account, and that’s $500 million bucks!

Reba McEntire has remained a fixture of country music for 40 years after getting her big break in 1976, making her quite a veteran in the industry. McEntire is known as one of country music’s most influential performers, as even inspired other country artists like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson. If you’re still wondering how Reba got to be worth so much money, keep reading. Not only did she put out 29 albums, but she also starred in her own T.V show Reba, and started the record label, Starstruck Entertainment, with Narvel Blackstock, her her ex-husband. Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007, allowed Reba to receive a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series–Musical or Comedy.

Famous for winning American Idol’s tenth season in 2011, Scott Cooke McCreery has a current net worth of $3 million! McCreary was born and raised in Garner, North Carolina and even as a child had a knack for singing as he started at the young age of 6 years old. If you’re wondering how he accumulated all that cash, then it can most likely be explained by the success of his debut album, Clear as Day, which was released in October of 2011 and went platinum in the U.S.. Unfortunately, the cash laced, and incredibly talented McCreary is no eligible bachelor as he and his longtime girlfriend Gabi have been together for years and met in kindergarten!

Charley Pride is an African American country singer who was RCA’s best selling performer since Elvis Presley. Throughout his career he had 52 hits reach the top 10 Billboard Country charts. Out of the 52, 29 of the songs made it to the number one spot. In 2000, Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is also one of only three African American country stars to be inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Sam Hunt is more than a pretty face, and his list of awards and net worth of $5 million big ones is all the proof we need. Even before Hunt’s successful solo career took off, he was the writer behind the songs of the biggest names in country, like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Billy Currington. Hunt recently released a new song titled Body Like A Back Road which was inspired by his proposal to his fiancé in Israel last November.

Not only is Faith Hill incredibly, beautiful and talented but she’s also loaded! And we’re not talking a few million. This country starlet and icon has been around for years, and in that time has managed to accrue an impressive net worth of $80 million. Hill has sold over 40 million albums, won 5 Grammy Awards, launched her own fragrance line and had a long list of appearances in movies and T.V shows, including Touched By an Angel, and Stepford Wives. Hill has been married to fellow country singer Tim McGraw since 1996, and together they continue to reign over the world of country music.

Ray Price was a country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in the state of Texas in January, 1926, Price was active in country music from 1948 until his death in 2013 at the age of 87. He was very well known for having one of the best male voices in country music at the time due to his wide ranging baritone. Interestingly, Price was in the news in 1999, not for his music, but rather he was busted for the possession of marijuana.

Miranda Lambert burst onto the scene in 2005 with her debut album Kerosene, which went platinum in the United States. The hit singles from that album – Me and Charlie Talking, Bring Me Down, Kerosene, and New Strings – were all top 40 hits on the Billboard country music charts. Although mainly known as a solo artist, Lambert is also a member of the Pistol Annies alongside Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. She has won awards at the Grammys, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the Country Music Association Awards. Lambert was formerly married to fellow country star Blake Shelton.

Born in Sumter, South Carolina, this country superstar started out young as he began singing and playing the piano when he was a child in church. In 2007, Brice began writing songs and gained fame after co-writing Garth Brooks’ popular single, More Than a Memory. After that, Brice decided to sign with Mercury Records and his solo career took off as he started banging out back-to-back hit songs. This blue-eyed boy next door has most recently been nominated for Song Of The Year at the 2014 Country Music Awards for his song I Don’t Dance, and has accumulated a net worth of $6 million.

Jennings first started to play the guitar at 8 years old, and began his first radio performances at the at of 14. Buddy Holly, in 1958, helped Jennings record his first couple of songs, and would later hire him to play bass. In fact, Jennings was supposed to be on the flight that crashed and killed Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson, Buddy Holly, and the pilot of the plane. Jennings would go on to find more success in his career and would even join the group The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson. Jennings was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Clay Walker, whose birth name is Ernest Clayton Walker Jr., was born in Texas in 1969. Walker signed with Giant Records in 1993, and his first 2 singles both shot to number one on the Billboard country charts. The label would go on to close in 2001, at which point he would work with Warner Brothers and RCA until joining Asylum-Curb Records in 2007. He has released a total of 11 albums so far, and 4 of them have reached platinum.

The eldest daughter of Johnny Cash – Rosanne Cash – has been in the country music industry since 1991. Since the beginning of her career, Rosanne released thirteen studio albums and six compilation albums. Aside from her booming music career, Cash wrote four books, was awarded for a Grammy Award twelve times, and married twice. Her second marriage to John Leventhal in 1995 is still going strong, and the couple have one son – Jakob. Rosanne Cash’s net worth, according to CelebrityNetWorth, is $10 million.

Musgraves has brought plenty of controversy to country music as her songs are less centered around jeans and Jesus and more focused on equal rights and other talk-worthy topics. Her individuality is part of Musgraves’ secrets for success. 2014 was her golden year as she took home, not one, but two Grammy awards – one for best country song with Merry Go Round and second for Best Country Album with Same Trailer Different Park. Since Signing with Mercury Records in 2012, she has released three albums, had a number one country single and made tons of dough. Musgraves is worth an estimated $10 million, which is seriously impressive considering she’s only 28 years old!

Gilbert may have a rough and tough exterior, but at the end of the day he’s a sweet and sensitive guy, just ask his wife, Amber Cochran. Gilbert’s singles More Than Miles, You Don’t Know Her Like I Do, and a few others were inspired by his special lady. On top of that, Gilbert even went abroad on an eight-day tour to entertain American soldiers in Italy and Kuwait during 2013. Gilbert has clearly built up good karma and a big name for himself in the country music world which is why he’s making the big bucks with an estimated net worth of $10 million!

Talk about an over-achiever! Since signing with Capitol Nashville in 2005, Chruch has released five albums and has secured a total of 6 number one hits! 2017 will be another big year for Church as he’s set to embark on his Holding My Own Tour. With all this work on his plate, it’s no wonder Chruch has just as much cash in the bank as he’s worth and estimated $10 million. We’re sure that extra cash will come in handy as he just welcomed his second son, Tennessee Hawkins, into the world with his wife Katherine Blasingame.

Although Patsy Cline is no longer with us, it would be hard to leave out one of the most celebrated female country artists out of the list. Often mentioned in the same breath as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley due to her iconic style and tone of voice, she became the first female solo artist to be admitted to the country music hall of fame in 1973. Patsy died tragically in 1963 aged only 30 when her manager’s, Randy Hughes, private plane crashed.

Thank you Darius Rucker for giving everyone a super catchy tune to sing along to! Yes, I’m talking about Wagon Wheel. The single from his third album reached the No. 1 spot in May 2013 on the Country Airplay chart, and he even won a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance. It’s no secret that Rucker has come a long way from his humble beginnings as the lead vocalist for country band Hootie & The Blowfish and his finances have too, as the country music sensation is worth an astonishing $14 million. That sum doesn’t include the money he’ll be bringing in from his 2017 European tour C2C: Country to Country festival.

Ronnie Milsap, country singer and pianist, was one of the most influential artist of the 70’s and 80’s. Born in North Carolina in 1943, Milsap was the first blind singer to find success making country music. Milsap made 40 number 1 hit songs which puts him at the third most in country music just behind artists George Strait and Conway Twitty. Moreover, Milsap won 6 Grammy Awards, and in 2014 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Patty Loveless is best known for her Neotraditional Country music; she manages to mix country rock and honky-tock genres, which contributed to her rise to fame. Loveless’ career started in 1973, and she continues to wow her fans to this day. Throughout her career, the singer reached the Billboard Top Country Songs five times, with more than forty singles on Billboard’s top 100. According to TheRichest, Patty Loveless’ net worth is $14 million.

Gil’s smooth, sweet voice earned him a net worth of $16 million since the start of his country career decades ago in Nashville. His career started in his teens when he played in various bluegrass music groups before finally heading off to Nashville and make it big. Fortunately for Vince and country fans everywhere, he did just that and pursued his dreams. So far, Gil has won 20 Grammy awards and was also inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame, and Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Adkins is a country singer and actor with a very long list of credits to his name and it all started with the release of his 1995 debut album Dreaming Out Loud. Since then, Adkins went on to release ten more albums. More than 20 of his singles have charted on the Billboard country music charts, including his number one singles No Thinking Thing, You’re Gonna Miss This, and Ladies Love Country Boys. Adkins’ T.V appearances include a stint on Hollywood Squares and Pyramid in 2008 as a panelist, and on The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice which he won in 2013. Not only is Adkins a man of many talents but he’s also a man with many dollars. $16 million, to be exact.

Alison Krauss is another country music whose career began at a very early age. By the time she was 14 she entered the recording studio and released her first single in 1987. She is often associated with her band Alison Krauss and Union Station with whom she released an album in 1989. Incredibly, she has won 27 Grammy awards from 42 nominations, meaning she is tied with Quincy Jones for the most awarded living recipient. When she won her first Grammy in 1991, she was the second youngest winner in history.

Turner ensured that he would never know a broke day in his life after signing to MCA Nashville Records in 2003. Later that year Turner released his first album, which was followed up by his second in 2006. In 2012 he released his single Time Is Love, and it became the biggest hit of 2012 as per Billboard Year-End. As if Turner hasn’t accomplished enough, he announced that he would release a new album in March 2017. This means that his net worth is $17 million and counting. Cha-Ching!!

Sugarland is a country music duo consisting of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. The group was founded back in 2002 by former band mate Kristen Hall along with Kristian Bush. The group signed with Mercury Nashville Records in 2004. Ever since then, the group has been very successful. The album The Incredible Machine was platinum only 3 months after release. Sugarland makes most of their money from their tours and royalties. When they toured in 2010-2011, the shows alone brought them approximately $8 million.

Connie Smith has accumulated 11 Grammy Award nominations as a result of her incredible vocals. In 2012, Smith was titled the 12th solo female vocalist in the Country Music Hall of Fame; she is considered to be one of the most underrated country vocalists in history by many critics. Smith has been married four times since 1961, and has five children from three of her marriages. At this moment, Connie Smith’s net worth is estimated to be $18 million by Wikipedia.

Ricky Skaggs is a country singer/songwriter with a reported net worth of around $20 million. Hailing from Cordell, Kentucky, Skaggs started playing the mandolin at age 5 when his father gave him one to play. By age 7 he made an appearance on Martha White’s country music variety show, playing with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Ricky achieved 12 number one hits as a solo artist and won 8 CMA awards as well as 8 ACM awards. He has been a member of a few different bands, including the Clinch Mountain Boys.

This tenacious country trio is known for taking over the charts with their catchy and light-hearted songs along with their many T.V appearances. The group was established in 1999 in Columbus, Ohio by Gary LeVox, along with his cousin Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney. Out of all the songs they’ve produced, 13 of their singles have reached No. 1 on Country Airplay and Billboard Hot Country Songs. But if you think they’re anywhere near over think again! The group released their new single Yours If You Want It not long ago on January 5, 2017.

Bentley got his foot in the door working for The Nashville Network researching footage of old country performances and got his big break in 2003 when he signed with Capitol Nashville. Soon after that, he released his first album What Was I Thinking, and it reached number one. In 2005 Bentley won the Horizon award at the Country Music Awards and was even invited to be a part of the Grand Ole Opry. Since then Bentley has made plenty hit songs and even more cash. At this point in his career, the country star is worth an astounding $24 million!

Clint Black was born in 1962 in New Jersey, but grew up in Texas after his family moved there when he was just a one year old. Black was involved with music from a young age, and people started to take notice of his talent even at the age of 13. He had taught himself to play harmonica before that age, and by 15 he had learned how to play the guitar. By 1983, he began to become active in the music industry and was finally signed with RCA by 1989. He even got to the point that he had his own label, although it closed back in ’08. Black is still involved in the music industry until today.

The formation of the Zac Brown Band took some time, but once they signed to Live Nation Artists Records, it took no time before the world knew their name and they started making serious bank. The Atlanta/Georgia-based band consists of Zachry Alexander Brown, who is the lead vocalist and guitarist, along with Jimmy De Martini, Coy Bowles, John Driskell Hopkins, Chris Fryar, Clay Cook, Matt Mangano, and Daniel de Los Reyes. Up to date, the band has put out six studio albums, and the award winning single Chicken Fried which was and remains a huge hit. Because who doesn’t love fried chicken or a cold beer on a Friday night, right?

Randy Travis hails from Marshville, North Carolina and has been tearing up the country music scene since 1985. Since his breakthrough in the mid 80’s, Travis has recorded 20 studio albums and had 50 singles hit the Bilboard Country music charts. 16 of those have been number one hits! The now 57-year-old has sold over 25 million records, had six number one albums and six grammy awards, among many, many other accolades. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His fame has dwindled somewhat over the last decade due to a shift to a more gospel-like sound but it’s hard to argue with his net worth of $32 million!

George Jones’s career spanned across five decades and is probably best-known for his hit song He Stopped Loving Her Today. Born in Saratoga, Texas, Jones joined the US Marine Corps in 1951 and 1959 found fame by releasing a cover “White Lightning” by J. P. Richardson, which basically launched his career as a leading musician. Jones was married four times, including to fellow country music star Tammy Wynette in 1969. Jones passed away in 2013 from hypoxic respiratory failure.

McBride, who hails from Sharon, Kansas released her first studio album The Time Has Come in 1992 under RCA Records, and since then has sold over 14 million albums. As if her sales records aren’t impressive enough, the country star also won the Country Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four times and an award for Top Female Vocalist three times. In 2016 McBride released the single Reckless off of her new album and embarked on her new U.S tour Love Unleashed, where you can see her perform live now.

Natalie Maines is the lead singer of the all female country band, Dixie Chicks. The band has been active since 1989 and is originally from Dallas, Texas. Maines has always been very vocal about her political views. In fact, it has led to many boycotts and negative views about the band. Regardless of politics, the band was very successful having achieved 13 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 9 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 6 Billboard Music Awards just to name a few.

Merle Haggard, a California native, is one of the godfathers of the country music sound. Along with artists such as Buck Owens, he pioneered the Bakersfiled sound with the help of his band The Strangers. After multiple stints in prison during his youth, Haggard turned his life around. During the 1960’s to the 1980’s, he had 38 number one hits but also continued to release music right up until the 2000s. He died from pneumonia complications in April 2016 but his estate is still said to be worth around $40 million.

Thank you Trisha Yearwood for creating music to mend the broken hearts of young woman everywhere. 1991 was the year Trisha rose to fame after her first single, She’s in Love with the Boy, was released and was received very well by country fans and critics alike. After selling more than 15 million albums worldwide and winning three Grammys along with a slew of other awards, Yearwood decided to dive into a culinary career. Trisha has published three successful cookbooks and hosted her own show on the Food Network called Trisha’s Southern Kitchen. With all of her accomplishments, it’s no wonder Yearwood has an impressive net worth of $40 million.

Lady Antebellum was formed in 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee. The group features 3 artist; Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood. The group has released 6 studio albums and has already released a single off of their new album slated to release this year. Their previous album, 747, made it up to the second spot on the Billboard country music charts. Lady Antebellum has also been very involved in charity work. The group created a charity called LadyAID which focuses and providing assistance to children in need.

Thanks to the advice of Tim DuBois, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn gave up their solo artist careers and joined forces to create Brooks & Dunn. When the duo signed to Arista Nashville in 1991, no one could predict just how much more successful they would be together. Since they began, they have released fourteen albums and fifty singles. Of their fifty singles, twenty reached number one on the country songs charts while another nineteen made it as far as the top ten.

Anne Murray is a Canadian country singer known for many “firsts”. Born in 1945 in Nova Scotia, Murray has sold more than 55 million albums around the world. She was the first female Canadian singer to reach the top spot on the U.S. charts, as well as the first to receive a gold record for a single. Many say that Anne Murray was a key influence that allowed stars like Shania Twain and Celine Dion to become the major stars that they became. Murray has also won 4 Grammy Awards, 3 CMA Awards, and 3 CCMA Awards. She was inducted to several Hall of Fame and has stars in Hollywood, Nashville, and Toronto.

Williams may come off as quite the eclectic character, but this country boy comes from a lineage of serious music legends starting with his father Hank Williams who was a country music pioneer. Hank Williams Jr. has accumulated a net worth of $45 million from singing and songwriting, which has mostly been inspired by his legendary father. When Williams isn’t was making music, he’s acting as he has made guest appearances over the years on the popular show Larry the Cable Guy.

Dwight Yoakam is a pioneering legend in country music. In the 1980’s, when he began his music career, Nashville was more geared toward an ‘urban cowboy’ style instead of Yoakam’s honky tonk. Yoakam left Nashville and headed off for Los Angeles where he would continue to build up his particular brand of country. Yoakam became so successful that he has recorded over 21 albums with more than 30 singles on the top charts. In all, he has sold more than 25 million records with five of them being number 1 Billboard albums. In addition, he as made 12 gold albums, 9 platinum records, and even a triple platinum record.

When Keith was trying to make it big, he gave a flight attendant and fan a copy of his demo tape. Mercury Records executive, Harold Shedd, was a passenger on one of her flights so she gave him a copy and Shedd liked what he heard. Shedd went to watch Keith perform live and soon after offered him a contract with Mercury Records. Keith’s first single, Should’ve Been a Cowboy, which was released in 1993, shot all the way to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and by the end of the decade it became the most-played country song of the 90’s. When he’s not creating hits or performing live, you can catch Keith at Oklahoma Sooners practices and games, being that he’s a huge University of Oklahoma sports fan.

Sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Country Music, Tammy Wynette is one of the biggest female singers in country music. She was born in Mississippi in 1942, and began making music in the mid 60’s. She married George Jones in 1969, and the couple would make several albums together. Her biggest hit was “Stand by Your Man”, but beyond that she had 20 number 1 hits on the charts throughout their career. She is one of the defining women in country music history, and is up there with Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.

Tanya Tucker has been a country music success for four decades. She began singing in 1972 when she was just 13. She would then go on to sign with Columbia Records; becoming a hit country singer after her very first album. Not only did she achieve financial security through her music career, but she also published her own book and has appeared as a TV personality. Tucker has been nominated for a Grammy Award on 9 different occasions but has never won.

Tyler and Brian surely make us want to roll our windows down and Cruiseee. These two started their bromance in 2008 and united to form one of the most popular country groups to date – Florida Georgia Line. The duo are now worth an estimated $50 million, so it’s safe to say they aren’t living the hard country life anymore. Tyler Hubbard, who is from Monroe, Georgia and Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Florida met at a worship group on campus at Belmont University and the rest is history. Rich, talented and God fearing? These two are the ultimate bachelors.

Now 80 years old, Campbell has left behind quite the legacy for the country music stars of today. Campbell is known best for the hit songs he created in the 60’s and 70’s and for being the host of The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS from 1969 to 1972. Campbell also made a guest appearance in Clint Eastwood’s 1980 film Any Which Way You Can. Glen Campbell has overcome a lot with a hefty net worth of $50 million bucks!

Randy Owen was born in Alabama in 1949. When Randy was growing up, he became interested in music and formed a band with his cousins. The band actually found success early on, and it was when the band name was changed to ‘Alabama’ in 1980 that it got signed by RCA. The band was very successful throughout the 80’s and 90’s. They made more than twenty albums that went platinum and gold, and many of their singles even made it to number 1. In total, the band has sold more than 75 million records.

Born in New Mexico in 1943, John Denver was one of the most popular singers during the 70’s. Over the course of his life, he recorded nearly 300 songs, and 200 of them he composed himself. In total, Denver has sold 33 million records. 12 of the albums have gone gold while another 4 of them went platinum. Denver also had several TV and film appearances throughout his career. Although Denver was also a pilot, he died tragically when his plane crashed in 1997.

Considering the fact that Bryan has only been making music for the better part of a decade, his net worth of $70 million isn’t too shabby at all! In 2013 Bryan received the award for Entertainer of the Year from the Academy of Country Music along with Artist of The Year and Male Vocalist of The Year awards in 2016. The 40-year old country star has no intent of slowing down as he’ll be singing the national anthem at the 2017 Super Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Keith Urban is an unusual success story in the country music world as he hails from down under, not from down south. The well-known singer, songwriter and guitarist is originally from New Zealand, and was raised in Australia! While we can’t help but feel a little deceived by his country boy facade he puts on so well, we’re sure he’s okay with it considering his commercial success has earned him a net worth of $75 million big ones and counting! Urban is still busy making more hit music and tons of money.

The seasoned country star is famous for combining traditional mainstream and honky tonk country sounds. Jackson has also written most of his own hit songs making him a highly sought after writer by other country legends. His huge fortune of $75 million comes not only from record sales but also from multimillion dollar endorsements. In 1992 Jackson worked out an endorsement with Ford after featuring a Ford truck in his music video for Who’s Cheatin’ Who. Then in 2009, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. came to a deal with Jackson where they would carry his “Alan Jackson Collection”, which consisted of special CDs and other personalized merchandise.

Jason Aldine Williams, known popularly as Jason Aldean, signed to Broken Bow Records in 2005 and since then has put out seven studio albums, 24 hit singles, earning himself a net worth of $80 million. Aldean’s album My Kinda Party, which was released in 2010, went triple platinum, earning him a lot of credit in the industry. The Burnin It Down singer wooed ladies everywhere after releasing the video for the steamy single in 2014 which was followed up by winning the Entertainer of the Year award at the 2016 American Country Music Awards.

Kristofferson is a man of many talents and a whole lot of money. The American country singer and songwriter is famous for writing and recording his hit songs, For the Good Times, Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night, and  Sunday Mornin Comin’ Down. In 2004 Kristofferson received the honor of being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor after starring in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and A Star Is Born. Although Kristofferson isn’t producing music like he used to, he has no care in the world, as he’s worth a whopping $80 million.

Owens was born in Texas in 1929, but called Bakersfield, California his home. He is best remembered for creating what some call Bakersfield sound. Essentially, he put California on the country music map in a way it had never been before. Beyond country music, Owens was a TV host, and restaurant owner. At his restaurant, Crystal Palace, Owens would perform almost every night. He even did this up until the day he died on March 25, 2006. Owens is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Although ‘The Man in Black’ is no longer with us, his net worth is still growing through continued record sales. Not many people can claim to be as popular in the 1950’s and 60’s as they are today like Johnny Cash can. Cash is widely considered to be one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and certainly one of the most successful. He and his backing band, The Tennessee Three, sold over 90 million records worldwide. Primarily a country music star, Cash also crossed over into other genres such as rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel – perhaps explaining why he was so popular with so many people.

Bob Dylan can be considered musical royalty in the United States. Born in 1941, Dylan has been an influential musician for more than 50 years. He has sold over 100 million records and has received countless awards including: 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Academy Awards, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2016 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. He has been inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Now, what would a list of the richest country singers be without the one and only Kenny Rogers, who is one of the most famous and richest country singers in history! After a decade with his band First Addition, Rogers decided to break off and go solo in 1976 after signing a deal with United Artists. Rogers is a man of many talents as his career wrap sheet includes singing, songwriting, producing, acting, photographing, and owning a business! It’s no wonder Rogers is worth $250 million.

Taylor Swift is currently one of America’s richest sweethearts with a massive net worth of $250 million. Swift entered the world of country music at a very young age, and through the years has transformed into a talented and grounded woman. Although Swift got her start  in country, she has since switched up her style over the years and now dabbles in pop and R&B, as she has recently teamed up with rappers on some of her tracks. Swift is a great role model for young woman and little girls with her music’s positive messages and her squeaky clean public image.

He may have kicked off the rock and roll revolution in the late 1950’s and 60’s, but Elvis also crossed over into the country music genre. One of the most celebrated and decorated artists of the 20th century, Elvis’s music continues to influence all kinds of modern genres. In 2011 his daughter Lisa Marie sold her father’s estate, including Graceland, to a mystery billionaire investor. Interestingly enough, most of the revenue that contributes to Elvis’s estimated $300 million fortune after his death is the demand for his image on all kinds of merchandise across the world.

As if Rhett wasn’t dreamy enough as it is, he’s worth a cool $5 million big ones! The chart-topping country crooner and writer owes a big thank you to his wife Lauren for most of his success, and that’s because she’s the inspiration for some of his most successful songs. Rhett’s single Die a Happy Man earned him a Grammy Award nomination for co-writing the song along with a nomination for Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. Not too shabby!

Considered one of the founding mothers of country music as we know it, Loretta Lynn has an estimated net worth of $60 million. She is a country songwriter and singer who has made a fortune mostly from her hit albums, stage performances, and a book about her life. Loretta Lynn is a classic icon in the country music world and an inspiration for many artists today. Before Loretta made it big she got her start singing in local bars and clubs in the late 50s with her husband by her side supporting her along the way. Now that’s love!

Willie Nelson is the undisputed Godfather of country music, with a swagger that just cannot be denied. On top of that, he’s worth $15 million! Nelson rose fame not only for being a country singer but also a producer, actor, poet, and activist. Throughout the years, Nelson has released countless hit songs, received numerous awards and has featured as a guest on the tracks of many other country artists. The man can literally do it all, and we’re simply blown away.

Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia and got his start in country music in 1999 when he released his first song Who Needs Pictures?. Since then he has released 10 studio albums which have sold over 12 million copies, hence why he’s worth so much! Paisley’s current estimated net worth is $65 million, and that really makes us wonder what does one do with that much money? Considering Paisley’s hobbies include, sports and Freemasonry, it’s safe to assume a good chunk of it goes to that. Paisley is an active Freemason and a member of the Hiram Lodge #4 in Franklin, Tennessee and the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Considering Brooks made a whopping $70 million in just 12 months between June 2015 and June 2016, it’s safe to say he is one of the highest-earning country music singers in the world. Brooks is still on the move as he’s currently on the country legend’s comeback tour, which is already in its second year and has dates going into 2017. According to Forbes, the tour has earnings in the nine figures! Just like Brooks’ net worth, which is currently at an estimated $280 million!

George Strait, who is often referred to as the King of Country, is widely considered one of the most popular and influential artists of all time. Asides from singing and songwriting, Strait was also an actor and a music producer. Strait is known for his traditional country style of dress and music and made the cowboy look the coolest it has or ever will be.  Credited with bringing country back to it’s roots in the 80’s, Straight has received lots of recognition, including a plaque dedicated to him in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Leann was just a normal Texan 14-year-old when her single Blue hit the charts in 1996 and shot her to stardom. Born in Mississippi but raised in Garland, Texas, Rimes was first compared to country music legend Patsy Cline due to the similarities in their vocal style and it didn’t take long for Rimes’s debut album to go platinum. After her initial success, Rimes crossed over into the pop music world and scored an unexpected hit with Can’t Fight The Moonlight from the movie Coyote Ugly in 2000. She is currently married to actor Eddie Cibrian.

After winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005, The beautiful blonde and incredibly talented singer has become one of the most successful country stars of her generation. We could talk for a while about her long list of achievements, but some of the most recent include being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. At this point, Underwood has a net worth of $70 million, but it will certainly keep rising especially with all the gigs she has lined up for this year.

Thanks to Shania Twain, ladies everywhere love occasionally shouting out “man, I feel like a woman!”. The Canadian country singer-songwriter is a five-time Grammy Award winner and has a current estimated net worth of $350 million! Twain has been a fixture in the music industry for almost 25 years and has sold over 85 million albums. This makes her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time.  You go, Shania!