Dolly Parton – $500 million
Greatest Hits: Jolene, I Will Always Love You, 9 to 5
Besides being a popular singer, Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs. She wrote Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You,” and almost every popular artist covered that song. Interviewed about her songwriting, she said she started writing when she was just seven years old. She said she’s trying to write something every day,” whether it’s a poem, concept, album, or little tidbit. She was influenced by her folksy childhood with a deep religious tradition in the Appalachian Mountains. She won 35 BMI Awards.
Dolly Parton
Tom Petty – $95 million
Greatest Hits: Here Comes My Girl, Refugee, Don’t Do Me Like That
Musician Tom Petty was one of the best-selling artists ever. He became interested in rock and roll when he met ten-year-old Elvis Presley. He was also influenced by The Rolling Stones, his own version of punk rock. He formed the unsuccessful Mudcrutch band. Yet Tom Petty’s formation and the Heartbreakers turned out to be a game-changer. In the 1970s, Petty formed the band, and their second album reached the Top40. Their third album was even more successful, selling two million copies and slewing singles.
Tom Petty