Kenny Chesney, George Strait & Reba Make Top Touring List

Posted Aug 3rd 2011 2:00PM by Gayle Thompson
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Kevin Winter, Getty Images

They have sold out stadiums and performed before millions of adoring fans this year, and now a few country artists have are joining the ranks of several of pop music's biggest stars in scoring the highest-grossing tours for the first half of 2011.

Kenny Chesney made the Top 10 on Billboard's list of Top 25 Tours, coming in at No. 9 with more than $25 million in gross revenue over 25 shows, with 19 of them being sold out. George Strait and Reba McEntire's tour landed six spots behind the 'You and Tequila' singer, earning more than $17.5 million over 17 shows, including six which were sold out.

Topping the list is U2, with almost $175 million in revenue, followed by Roger Waters with $114 million, Bon Jovi raking in $107 million, Lady Gaga making just under $72 million and Usher rounding out the Top 5 with $70 million.

Other top touring acts include Iron Maiden, Justin Bieber, Elton John, Prince and Metallica.

Kenny's high rank on the chart is a feat all the more impressive considering the Tennessee native took a year off from the road in 2010 for a much-needed break. The rest, he insists, is what is helping his current Goin' Coastal tour be so successful.

"I do feel like I've had time off," Kenny told The Boot before embarking on his latest trek. "It's an exciting time for all of us. To go out there and the love affair that I feel like we experience with the fans is second to none. And that's the reason that I wanted to take a break too, because I felt like I had to protect that at any cost, and now we're ready to go back."

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