DAILY DIRT: There’s actually a category where Taylor Swift is ‘only’ No. 2?

Daily Dirt for Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

Why do I think it’s only a matter of time before the Swifties elevate her No. 1 in this, too? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 879 of The Daily Dirt.

1. What? There’s some sort of ranking that finds Taylor Swift not currently No. 1?

Yep, it’s career earnings for a female singer. But don’t fret for Ms. Swift. She’s a solid No. 2 behind Rihanna.

The following list was compiled from multiple media sources and includes a variety of incomes for the stars listed, proving many are far from one-trick ponies:

• 1. Rihanna, $1.7 billion: The Barbados-born superstar’s impressive net worth places her solidly atop this list. Her beauty line, Feauty, earns more than $100 million in revenue and is valued between $2-3 billion. Additionally, she has a 30 percent stake in the lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, currently valued at around $1 billion dollars. Rihanna follows in the footsteps of Oprah Winfrey, who has always stressed the significance of diversifying one’s revenue streams.
• 2. Taylor Swift, $1 billion: On a single day in November 2023, more than 2 million tickets were sold on Ticketmaster for her Eras tour. Now that is economic power.
• 3. Madonna, $850 million: Before she became Madonna she was Louis Ciccone. Louise is now the seventh-best selling musical artist in history.
• 4-tie. Selena Gomez, $800 million: Much of her wealth primarily stems from her thriving cosmetic company, Rare Beauty. 
• 4-tie. Celine Dion, $800 million: She has sold more than 220 million records in her career.
• 6. Dolly Parton, $650 million: She is also a successful author, businesswoman and actor, plus her “day job” as a singer and composer.
• 7. Beyonce, $540 million: She rose to fame as a member of Destiny’s Child, a three-girl group who once performed in Quincy.
• 8. Gloria Estefan, $500 million: She began her career in the 1980s with the Miami Latin Boys Band.
• 9-tie. Victoria Beckham, $450 million: Remember when Beckham was one of the Spice Girls? (Posh Spice, to be exact.)
• 9-tie. Barbra Streisand, $450 billion: She is one of only a select few performers who have won all four major entertainment awards: the Academy Award, Emmy Award, Grammy Award, and Tony Award. 
• 11-tie. Shania Twain, $400 million: Eilleen “Shania” Twain established herself as the unquestioned queen of country pop in the 1990s.
• 11-tie. Jennifer Lopez, $400 million: We often forget JLO was an actress and dancer before she tackled singing.
• 11-tie. Trisha Yearwood, $400 million:Yearwood has diversified her talents into television and authorship. A few of her notable achievements include an Emmy Award for her success as a celebrity chef, thanks to her very own cooking show.
• 14. Cher, $360 million: She’s a cultural icon who has won a Grammy, an Emmy, an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, a Cannes Film Festival award and a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 15-tie. Mariah Carey, $340 million: She’s one of the 15 best-selling musical artists in history.
• 15-tie. Katy Perry, $340 million: Her income is helped by a $25 million annual paycheck from being an “American Idol” judge.
• 17. Lada Gaga, $320 million: I like the comparison of her as a cross between Madonna and Bette Midler.
• 18. Shakira, $300 million: The Colombian pop star is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, belly dancer and philanthropist.
• 19. Ariana Grande, $240 million: She has 372 million Instagram followers.
• 20. Adele, $220 million: The Brit sensation has won 16 Grammys and earns a reported $62,500 per day in royalties..

Honorable mention

• Pink, $200 million
• Jessica Simpson, $200 million
• Janet Jackson, $190 million
• Miley Cyrus, $160 million

2. This week’s celebrity happy birthday wishes go to:

• Actor Ron Howard, who we grew up with as “Opie” on “The Andy Griffith Show,” will be 70 on Friday.
• Pop singer/icon Justin Bieber turns 30, also on Friday.
• Singer/actor Jon Bon Jovi will be 62 come Saturday.
• Actor Daniel Craig, arguably the best-ever James Bond, will be 54, also on Saturday.
• Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal celebrates birthday No. 52 on Wednesday.

3. Do you remember the year the following songs skyrocketed to the top of the charts?

• “You’re The One That I Want,” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.
• “Night Fever,” by the Bee Gees.
• “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” by Rod Stewart.
• “YMCA,” by the Village People.
• “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” by A Taste of Honey.

If you guessed 1978 you would be correct. That would also be 46 years ago. Wow.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — The most surprising member of that top 20 in Thought No. 1 for me was Trisha Yearwood, or at least at the lofty No. 11 position she holds.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Steve and Opie are the same age. Seems about right.