Which Country Star Made The Most Money Last Year?

Photo courtesy of YouTube.com

Forbes Magazine just released their Top-5 Earners list, and #1 is probably NOT who you think it is …

For May ’10 – May ’11, here are the top five earners in country music:

1)  Toby Keith – $50 million
2)  Taylor Swift – $45 million
3)  Brad Paisley – $40 million
4)  Tim McGraw – $35 million
5)  Rascal Flatts – $34 million

Toby’s restaurant & liquor ventures (including I Love This Bar & Grill), in addition to his Ford corporate sponsorship & tour dates / music, put him over the top …

JUST ANNOUNCED: Live Country at Joe’s Bar with Brad Paisley!

Brad headlines our next Live Country show at Joe’s Bar, Wednesday, September 21st!   What a night it will be …

First chance to win invitation-only passes Monday morning with Lisa & Ray at 7:45a!

Brad Paisley calls Drew!

Brad called me this afternoon to tell me I’m STILL a jerk …

OK, there’s a little more to the story, but you get the full scoop here … plus Brad’s take on his new CD, an Alabama reunion tour & more!

Click to listen:  Brad Paisley & Drew - US 99.5 May 2011

Taylor Swift made HOW much money last year?

We knew she was popular, but this is a LOT of cash …

Billboard Magazine just ranked the top five country earners from last year:

1) Taylor Swift – $20.70 million
2) Brad Paisley – $13.95 million
3) Carrie Underwood – $13.50 million
4) Tim McGraw – $13.49 million
5) Rascal Flatts – $11.95 million

It’s the Countdown to Front Row for Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker!

All week, we’ve got the best seats in the house for YOU … all the way down to Front Row Friday with Lisa & Ray!

5:25pm – I’ll give you 8th Row today, with the Drew Walker Drive @ 5.

Cash and concert tickets … not a bad combination

ON THE SHOW TODAY:

**  3 more chances to win $1,000 – when you hear the Money Machine, dial 866.EASY.WIN, be caller #110, and you score!   (Want an extra advantage?   Exact times HERE)

**  Montgomery Gentry & friends kick off our Summer Concert Series on Saturday, 5/22 – grab tickets when you Sing It Or Say It @ 4:10pm!

**  Brad Paisley / Darius Rucker in Tinley Park Friday, 7/16 – win your seats before they’re even on sale, with the Drew Walker Drive @ 5

Blake Shelton REALLY said that ?

ON THE SHOW TODAY:

** Did you miss Blake Shelton yesterday?  What was he REALLY doing with Reba off-camera, and why does he think Chicago lies about one of its own?  Catch the whole conversation HERE !

**  Their final Chicagoland show ever - Brooks & Dunn in Tinley Park Sunday, 8/8 … win your seats with the Drew Walker Drive @ 5!

**  At 6:10pm, grab more Gary Allan invitation-only passes for LIVE COUNTRY Saturday, 3/27 @ Joe’s Bar!

** Tonight on The Road @ 10pm, join me for live music & conversation with Brad Paisley & Taylor Swift

** FNPP 9-11pm tomorrow night @ Countryside Saloon in Des Plaines (2501 E Ballard Rd, just north of Dempster, east of Tri-State) … Miller Lite will rock your world!

Brad Paisley called me a WHAT ?!?

On The Ride Home today:

• If you missed Brad Paisley on the show yesterday, and why Brad called me a JERK (!), hear the conversation HERE!

• Josh Turner comes to Joe’s Bar TOMORROW … grab my last pair of invitation-only passes @ 3:30pm (get ready to Sing It Or Say It)!

• Jimmy Buffett brings Margaritaville to Toyota Park in Bridgeview Saturday, August 14th – win more tickets before they’re even on sale, with the DW Drive @ 5!

• Tomorrow night on The Road @ 10pm, join me for 2 hours of live music & conversation with Blake Shelton & Darius Rucker

• FNPP 9-11pm in Midlothian – find me @ TJ’s Sports Bar (4025 W 147th St, one block west of Pulaski) with Miller Lite & Gretchen Wilson Greatest Hits cds!

Cheerios & blueberries … a simple life

My son Roy is busy dissecting his blueberries from his Cheerios breakfast … that means he’s almost finished.  ACK, hold on.

OK, just rescued a few soggy Cheerios from his hair, delicately placed there by him.  The boy is a genius.

Big weekend in store, hope you can join me:

• I’m broadcasting from Tinley Park this afternoon 3-7pm, getting ready for the Brad Paisley / Dierks Bentley / Jimmy Wayne show … stop by for your chance at cool prizes!
• Tonight, all the line dancing you can handle @ Sundance Saloon in Waukegan (300 Lakehurst Rd, just east of the Tri-State) with the FNPP between 9-11pm
• Tomorrow night, win Toby Keith tickets at our Coors Light Beer N Bags finals in Chicago … between 8-11pm, I’ll be at Edison Park Inn (just off Northwest Highway on Olmstead, opposite the Metra station)

Make it a great day, we’ll chat after 3pm.

Randy Houser, Brad Paisley, Miller Lite & Smart Kids

Glad to be back from vacation, we had a blast in Wisconsin on Lake Beulah with the extended family.  If you missed any of our hijinks, follow me on Twitter @radiodrew HERE, and you’ll be connected 24/7.

Tomorrow’s a big day – make plans to join me at Arlington Park between 3-7pm, as I broadcast with Randy Houser.  He’s the guy with my favorite song on the radio right now, Boots On, plus the video that is guaranteed to make you smile.  Really.  Watch the video at my webpage HERE.

Then tomorrow night, I have more Brad Paisley Miller Lite Party Deck passes up for grabs with the FNPP @ CC’s Grove in Willow Springs.  We’ll do a pair at 10pm, and again at 11pm.  Details HERE.

Next week, it’s your last two chances to get qualified for the trip to the CMAs in November!  Coors Light Beer N Bags in Island Lake on Tuesday, then Woodstock on Wednesday.  Register between 8-9pm, then 16 teams are randomly-selected to begin play at 9pm.  I want to see you there (directions & more details HERE)!

Lastly, my son is the smartest boy ever.  Yes, I’m biased, but I think you’ll agree.  Is your child even smarter?

Let’s talk about it, today at 3:45pm, on US 99.5 fm and streaming online at US99.com!