According to Forbes.com's list of the top twenty 'cash queens of music', Madonna is number one, which is no great surprise. The singer earned $72million between June 2006 and June 2007 through her Confessions tour, album sales, her H&M fashion line and other merchandising. Barbra Streisand is second with $60million, largely due to her recent comeback tour in the US, and third place goes to Celine Dion, who made $40 million partly thanks no doubt to her five year run in Vegas.
The rest of the list goes like this: Shakira ($38 million), Beyonce ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million). Mariah Carey ($13 million), Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride ($12 million each), Britney Spears ($8 million), Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each) and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).
The list includes money earned from all kinds of merchandising and perfume selling shenanigans, which is why people who don't seem to have done much music-ing of late are on there.