Forbes released its annual listing of country music’s top-earning stars and it’s no surprise who’s names top the list.

The slump in the economy hasn’t hit our favorite artists very hard because the numbers are up from last year. The top 10 artists pulled in a combined $321 million in the year ended June 2010.

Kenny Chesney topped the list with $50 million
Toby Keith landed in the No. 2 spot on the list with $48 million
Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts tied for third with $45 million

The second half of the top 10 featured Tim McGraw ($30 million), Keith Urban ($28 million), George Strait ($25 million), Brad Paisley ($22 million), Alan Jackson ($15 million) and Carrie Underwood ($13 million).

In the article that was published with the list, Forbes noted what all of us country fans already know.

Country fans are often loyal to their favorite artists for a long time. “Fame in Nashville seems to come with an irrevocable ticket into the hearts and wallets of country fans who, like the heroes of a sad song, are in it for the long haul.” The article offered a rationale for country music’s ability to ride the economic storm facing the entire music industry a bit better than some of its other formats.

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