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Toby Keith tops list of highest paid artists

Ever wished you could have "Drinks After Work" with Toby Keith? Rest assured, he's probably good for a few rounds. In fact, he would probably afford to buy the entire bar. As in... the actual building.

Keith has topped Forbes' annual list of country music's highest paid artists for the second year in a row, raking in an estimated $65 million. He was pushed to the No. 1 spot thanks to his "I Love This Bar and Grill" restaurant chain, an endorsement deal with Ford, his very own Wild Shot tequila brand, and revenue from his Show Dog record label.

Keith told Forbes his business model is, "Cost-effective as crap." He went on to say, "[The fans are] in Toby's house. They're drinking Toby's liquor. That's Toby's act. And then we're moving to the next town." (Over the last six years, said business model has tallied over $335 million).

So how does Keith celebrate being the highest paid artist in country music? He continues to plug away by rolling city to city on his 2014 Shut Up & Hold On Tour. The trek, which takes its name from Keith's "Shut Up & Hold On" single, continues through the summer and is set to wrap in Philadelphia, PA on September 27th.

The Academy of Country Music recently announced that Keith will be honored at the upcoming ACM Honors Awards show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on September 8. The other honorees are Dean Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, Carrie Underwood, Ronnie Milsap, Jack Clemant, Buck Owens, Bob Beckham, and Rascal Flatts.

Toby Keith's musical Happy Hour (Updated 9/13/13)

We know what would put the 'happy' in Happy Hour, and that's "Drinks After Work" with Toby Keith. The superstar's current single will also be the title to his newest album, he announced September 5.

All summer long Keith has been hinting that the song title might wind up as the album title "because it's a big song." And that it will stand as the namesake to his 17th (!!) studio album just proves how big. The album, set for release on October 29, will include 10 songs. A deluxe edition with three bonus tracks is also in the works, including a version of "Margaritaville" that features Sammy Hagar, and the song "Chuckie's Gone," a tribute to Keith's late bandleader and bass player Chuck Goff, who was killed in a car accident earlier this year.

A lot more info about the project has also surfaced, including details on songs like "Before We Knew They Were Good" and "Last Living Cowboy In This Town." Unfortunately, it sounds like a duet with Jimmy Buffett called "Too Drunk To Karaoke" didn't make the cut, but a version of it does appear on Buffett's new album.

When Keith isn't busy having drinks after work, he's busy making them and marketing them. The country crooner has recently done a number of autograph sessions and meet-and-greet style events for his Wild Shot Mezcal, a 100 percent green agave, 86.8 proof mezcal. A 750 milliliter bottle goes for close to $40 in most liquor stores, and is another way Keith sells himself as a brand as much an entertainer. To go along with his "I Love This Bar & Grill" chain of restaurants, it's almost an all-out marketing assault designed to keep Keith as the top-grossing country artist today (according to Forbes).

Keith is currently crisscrossing the country on his "Hammer Down Tour," which will take a break from its North American run in late October. One date – March 22 in Melbourne, Florida – is already on his schedule for 2014.

Toby Keith has been charting hits since his debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," but perhaps a more appropriate title would've been "About to be a Rebel." Since the early 90's, the unabashed, outspoken Oklahoma native has been doing things his own way – and it appears he isn't slowing down any time soon.

Always considered a dependable, workmanlike performer, Keith cranked out songs like "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action," "Wish I Didn't Know Now" and "Blue Moon." Then came "Dream Walkin," "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" and "How Do You Like Me Now?," which was the Number One country song of 2000 according to Billboard.

Then came September 11, 2011 – a day that not only changed America, but was the catalyst for a song that made Toby Keith a superstar. His wrote and recorded "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" (also known as "The Angry American") in late 2011, and the song became both a rallying cry and a highly charged political statement as it ascended the charts. It sparked a considerable amount of publicity when Keith refused to appear on a nationally televised concert after being asked to soften the lyrics. He then had a very public feud with the Dixie Chicks over both the song and comments they made about then-President George W. Bush.

Keith has continued his steady pace ever since, and has weathered industry criticism and a split with his record label in the process. His rash of number one songs ("As Good as I Once Was," "She Never Cried in Front of Me" and "God Love Her") has been peppered with other patriotic anthems like "American Soldier" and "Made in America." In the fall of 2012 he released the album "Hope on the Rocks," which was preceded by the single "I Like Girls That Drink Beer." His latest tour, "Live in Overdrive," opened January 19 and runs through early September.

About Toby Keith

What can be said about this controversial, incendiary, emotional, patriotic and proud Country Singer/Songwriter that hasn't already? Not much as his long list of awards (5 American Music Awards, 7 Academy of Country Music Awards) and Accolades (CMA Male Vocalist of the Year 2001, Billboards Country Artist of the Decade), # 1 Selling Singles, numerous television appearances (Comedy Central, Politically Incorrect) and passionate political beliefs not to mention (and he won't) his selfless work entertaining American troops around the World. These all reveal Toby Keith to be an American artist of unique integrity and powerful vision. Toby Keith is a one-of-a-kind Country visionary who is leaving giant "bootprints" wherever he strides and doing it his way. Get Toby Keith tickets to watch the action live.

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March 09, 2014

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