Dolly Parton – $500 million
Greatest Hits: Jolene, I Will Always Love You, 9 to 5
Dolly Parton, in addition to being a famous musician, has recorded over 3,000 albums. Whitney Houston sang, “I Will Always Love You,” and that song was covered by almost every famous singer. Interviewed regarding her songwriting, she said that when she was only seven years old, she began writing. If it’s a poem, concept, album, or little tidbit, she said she’s attempting to compose something every day. With a strong religious heritage in the Appalachian Mountains, she was inspired by her folk upbringing. She received 35 BMI Awards.
Dolly Parton
Tom Petty – $95 million
Greatest Hits: Here Comes My Girl, Refugee, Don’t Do Me Like That
One of the best-selling musicians ever was guitarist Tom Petty. When he encountered ten-year-old Elvis Presley, he became involved in rock and roll. He was also inspired by his own industrial rock interpretation of The Rolling Stones. He founded the disastrous Mudcrutch band. But the founding of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers turned out to be a game-changer. Petty formed the band in the 1970s and their second album.
Tom Petty
