Feel Good Friday

News From Around The Country
Forbes magazine has released its list of the Top Ten Earners in Country Music, and Kenny Chesney comes in first for the second year in a row. Forbes noted that his 57-date tour brought in an average gross of $1.6 million dollars a night, which helped his total earnings top out at $69 million last year. Toby Keith came in second with $48 million from his restaurant chain, touring profit, and song royalties. But it was Taylor Swift who showed the biggest jump in income in just one year. She went from $18 million to $45 million. She ties Rascal Flatts for the third spot. Tim McGraw takes the 5th spot and Keith Urban, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson and Carrie Underwood finish out the top ten.

On the flip side of the money, it’s nice to see that Carrie Underwood and ACM Lifting Lives have committed the seed money to create ACM Lifting Lives Temporary Home Fund to support relief efforts for families suffering from the floods in Nashville. ACM Lifting Lives received funds from the taping of ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn The Last Rodeo. Carrie received grant money after winning Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards, so her grants plus money raised from the Brooks & Dunn Special is what will be used for this foundation. “Last year, I partnered with ACM Lifting Lives to help people in my hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma. Now I’m happy that we can help people in my current home of Nashville,” said Carrie. During the Brooks & Dunn special Sunday on CBS, fans can text ACM to 501501 to make a one-time $10 donation to the new ACM Lifting Lives Temporary Home Fund. ….. In other Carrie news, she will return to American Idol to perform “Undo It” for the season finale on Wednesday.

Set the DVR again today because Dolly Parton will be on Oprah. She’ll sing “Nine to Five,” give Oprah an inside look at her tour bus where she reveals her wig closet, and she’s even brought a friend with her to the show – Kenny Rogers! Kenny, Dolly and Oprah all sing “The Gambler,” during the show. ….. Taylor Swift’s talk of having a mote, a life sized bird cage and even stingrays in her new penthouse has her band calling her new place The Imaginarium. Taylor has no idea when her new place will be finished so until then, she is still living with her parents. .....

And finally, you may have watched the finished Sims video, but now you can see Lady Antebellum stumbling their way through the recording process: