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. Whitney Houston wrote, “I Will Always Love You,” and almost every popular artist covered that song. Interviewed about her songwriting, she said that she began writing when she was just seven years old. Whether it’s a poem, a concept, an album, or a little tidbit, she said she tries to write something every day. Through a deep religious tradition in the Appalachian Mountains, her folk childhood influenced her. She was awarded 35 BMI Awards.
Dolly Parton – $500 Million
Tom Petty – $95 million
Greatest Hits: Here Comes My Girl, Refugee, Don’t Do Me Like That
Tom Petty, a musician, was one of the greatest artists ever. When he met Elvis Presley, ten years old, he became interested in rock and roll. The Rolling Stones, his version of punk rock, also influenced him. He formed an unsuccessful Band of Mudcrutch. But the formation of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers proved to be a game-changer. Petty formed the group in the 1970s, and their second album reached the Top40. Even better was their third album, with two million copies and singles sold.
Tom Petty – $95 Million
