It used to be that when we thought Tim McGraw, we were supposed to think of her, too. No, no…not Faith Hill. Taylor Swift. Only now, there’s no need to think just Tim McGraw; we can think Toby Keith, 
Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, even Brooks & Dunn. That’s some major country royalty. And those names, along with Miss Swift, make up Forbes’ Top Five (Estimated) Earners from Nashville in 2009. (Brooks & Dunn and Tim McGraw both came in at number five.)
Taylor Swift is number four on that list, after being the best-selling solo artist of 2008 and having some fun on the big screen with Miley Cyrus, Swift is expected to bring in about $18 million in 2009. But, as we all know, it’s not about the money.
This sweetheart has broken into the good ol’ boys club. Not only were the others in the Top Five all on last year’s Forbes list, they’re all male. After Taylor, the next highest rank amongst women is Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Nettles (both in 8th). Country music listeners tend to be loyal to their acts and so you see many top earners who have been around the rodeo a time or two but, with the Dixie Chicks on what seems to be a temporary hiatus, we are glad to have and up-and-comer like Taylor breaking through to the top tier.
Taylor writes her own songs and belts them out in a mix of country twang, solid pop, and a bit of coffee shop culture. Her accomplishments have left us wondering what we might accomplish if we have the courage to sing it out loud, too.