Alan Jackson

Travis Tritt to deliver fans a brand new online experience.

Travis Tritt

Travis Tritt With shoulder-length hair and a deep love for southern rock and outlaw country, Tritt’s breakthrough hit was the unapologetically unsophisticated “Country Club” in late 1989. Although the Georgia native fancies himself an energetic country rocker, his biggest hits have ironically been his ballads. He topped the Hot Country Songs chart for the first time when the gripping “Help Me Hold On” shot to No. 1 in 1990. In fact, all of Tritt’s five No. 1 songs are ballads. His reedy baritone is equally compelling on hard driving fare like “Put Some Drive In Your Country,” or his most recent No. 1, the tender “Best of Intentions” (2000). Travis Tritt and Nashville-based Noise New Media have teamed up to deliver fans a brand new online experience. Be sure to keep checking back for new music, never before seen videos, Travis Tritt widgets for your Facebook and MySpace, ringtones and more! More Travis…

Kenny Chesney Rules, Taylor Swift Moves Up On Forbes’ Biggest Country Moneymakers List

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney Rules, Taylor Swift Moves Up On Forbes’ Biggest Country Moneymakers List. We already know it’s good to be a country music star. But Forbes has detailed the earnings of some of the biggest names in country music, based on touring, publishing royalties, album sales, and more, and made it that much clearer. Among the top money makers this year on the country scene are Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, and Taylor Swift. Kenny Chesney continues to top Forbes’ list of Country Music’s 10 Top Earning Artists in 2010. Also ranking #1 last year, he pulled in an estimate earnings of $50 million from 2009-2010. His 2009 tour reportedly grossed $71 million, earning an average of $1.6 million a night. At #2 is Toby Keith, who moves up a spot from #3 last year. He made an estimated $48 million last year, including his tour earnings, publishing royalties, a chain of restaurants, and even a large stake in Big Machine Records, which counts Taylor Swift as one of its artists. Taylor Swift is on the list at #3, thanks to her sold-out “Fearless” tour and being one of the few artists still able to sell millions of their album during the low record-buying climate. Along with millions of digital singles sold and endorsement deals with brands like CoverGirl, Swift was able to sing all the way to $45 million, up from $18 million in 2008-2009. Tied with Swift this year earning $45 million are Rascal Flatts. The band earned $42 million from their 2009 tour, and a few other million from publishing royalties. At #5 is Tim McGraw who earned $30 million, thanks to early 2010 tour dates, a supporting role in “The Blind Side” and a new album. The rest of the list includes Keith Urban ($28 million), George Strait ($25 million), Brad Paisley ($22 million), Alan Jackson ($15 million), and Carrie Underwood ($13 million).Forbes’ List of Country Music’s 10 Top Earning Artists in 2010

1. Kenny Chesney

2. Toby Keith

3. Taylor Swift

3. Rascal Flatts

5. Tim McGraw

6. Keith Urban

7. George Strait

8. Brad Paisley

9. Alan Jackson

10. Carrie Underwood

Joe Nichols on the THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC.

JoeNichols on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC

Tu 5/18: Michael Douglas, Charles Barkley and Joe Nichols on the THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC. Joe Nichols was born in Rogers, Ark., on Nov. 26, 1976. His father drove a truck but also played bass and sang. Nichols would hear and watch his dad perform at VFW dates. Like Nichols’ grandfather and uncles, his dad played classic country music. At 19, Nichols secured a record deal on Intersound Records before the label folded. After that, he endured the usual round of Nashville jobs that most aspiring young country singers hold down, from moving furniture to installing cable TV systems to selling steaks door to door. In 1999, he met studio guitarist Brent Rowan, who ultimately produced Nichols’ 2002 album Man With a Memory, the first project from the Universal South imprint. Nichols and the song “The Impossible” earned a total of three Grammy nominations and “Brokenheartsville” hit No. 1. Even as “The Impossible” was taking off, Nichols played the Grand Ole Opry every available Saturday night. A few days after his father passed away in 2002, Nichols performed the Merle Haggard classic “Footlights” on the Opry. Alan Jackson invited Nichols to open selected shows on his 2003 tour, the same year he won the the CMA Horizon award. In 2004, he issued his second album, Revelation, which offered two Top 10 hits (“If Nobody Believed in You” and “What’s a Guy Gotta Do”). He also released A Traditional Christmas at the end of the year. His career received a boost in the summer of 2005 when the memorable single “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” found favor at country radio. As a result, his album, III, was quickly certified gold.