Toby Keith is tops these days, according to Forbes.  The magazine has named him the top earning Country Music Star bringing in$50 million dollars the past year.  In addition to his music, Toby rakes in the bucks from his sponsorship deal with Ford (now in its tenth year), his Mezcal drink Wild Shots and his chain of I Love This Bar & Grill restaurants, (ranked as of one the 25 Best Celebrity-Owned Restaurants) . Taylor Swift is right behind him at $45 million, followed by Brad Paisley with $40 million.   Also making the list, Tim McGraw--35 million, Rascal Flatts--$34 million, Kenny Chesney--$30 million, George Strait-- $24 million, Alan Jackson--$22 million, Carrie Underwood--$20 million and Sugarland--$18 million.   Toby tells Billboard Magazine he was "thisclose" to leaving his latest hit, "Made in America" off his upcoming "Clancy's Tavern" album.    He says because of several of his other hits, 'Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue,' 'American Soldier,'  and 'American Ride' , "That's a lot of America songs. ..if I did 'em all, that's all I'd record," he told Billboard.com, "I thought I should leave about three or four years between 'em and let the last one breathe a little, y'know? I figured ('Made in America') could wait for the next (album)."   Thankfully, some of his buddies changed his mind, "I was in the booth singing the scratch vocal, and everyone was going, 'God, what a smash. That is awesome, pal!' Keith recalls. "Everyone was high-fiving and carrying on. I wasn't about to pop everyone's bubble and say, 'I ain't putting it on the album.' So I said, 'Alright, y'all win. Put it on there.'"    Read all about it here.    Toby visits Riverbend in concert with Eric Church, September 29th.   "Clancy's Tavern" is due out October 24th. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaAF_3WMJGM