Garth Brooks Could Become the Richest Country Singer With $2B Catalog Sale

Garth Brooks is reportedly eyeing a catalog sale that would be one of the biggest in music history, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. That deal could be valued as high as $2 billion.

Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the WSJ reports that Brooks is in talks with sales ranging from over $1 billion to $2 billion including “potential investors.”

If finalized, the sale would include both Brooks’ songwriting rights and his catalog of recorded music. It could become one of the largest sales of a single artist’s catalog in history.

Could Garth Brooks Become Country Music’s Richest Singer?

Theoretically, yes. A $2 billion catalog sale could bump him up over Beyoncé, who became a billionaire (per Forbes) last year amid the momentum of her Cowboy Carter album and tour.

Brooks is currently within the Top 5 of country’s wealthiest artists. Behind Beyoncé is Dolly Parton, with an estimated net worth of $650 million, followed by Brooks ($400 million) and Shania Twain (approximately $350 million).

But if Brooks’ proposed catalog sale goes through at the price that WSJ reports it could, he might not just be the richest country artist — he could be among the richest singers of any genre.

Jay-Z currently has the highest net worth of any musical star with $2.53 billion, and a $2 billion catalog sale could find Brooks challenging that number.

What Is Included In Garth Brooks’ Catalog?

Garth Brooks has 10 RIAA diamond-certified albums, and he has sold over 200 million albums in the U.S. across his career. His biggest hits include “Friends in Low Places,” “The Dance, “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)” and many more.

Brooks wrote or co-wrote several of his hit songs.

An intriguing aspect of any potential sale of Brooks’ catalog is that the singer’s music has been famously inaccessible on many major streaming services.

The singer signed an exclusive streaming agreement with Amazon in 2016, but he balked at the switch to streaming overall, keeping his music off platforms such as Spotify. For many fans, that means getting Brooks’ music on demand still means buying the full album.

Garth Brooks Songs Ranked Worst to First:

No. 52: “Do What You Gotta Do” (2000)

Released after interest in Chris Gaines was, ahem, soft, this Top 20 single from Sevens proved to be an unremarkable close to that album cycle. Lyrically the inspirational is uninspired, especially as it tries to stand up to a catalog filled with motivating hits.

No. 51: “People Loving People” (2014)

Garth Brooks suggested the way to solve all the world’s problems was with people loving people. His comeback song seemed stuck in a more ideological era. Released in 2014 the idea was corny at best.

No. 50: “It’s Midnight Cinderella” (1996)

Reviews of this hit from 1995 called it “sassy” and “suggestive.” Two decades later it’s G-rated in comparison to songs on the radio. The fairytale-themed swinger did OK with a Top 5 chart position, and even those who roll their eyes at his lyrics (“I’m Peter Peter, the pumpkin eater and the party’s just begun”) have to credit the creativity.

No. 49: “The Fever” (1995)

Brooks rodeo-d up this Aerosmith song to make it a radio-friendly country rocker and a bright spot during his live show at the time. The song was meant for the stage with an over-the-top performance feeling like too much for another setting. Unbridled energy makes the recording better than one could have hoped for.

Capitol

No. 47: “Longneck Bottle” (1997)

This is sure to be a controversial ranking, but we’ll call “Longneck Bottle” the worst of Brooks’ No. 1 hits. It’s still a decent listen in the right setting, but like so many of the songs on this half of our worst to best Garth Brooks songs list, it doesn’t compare.

Capitol

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No. 46: “That Ol’ Wind” (1996)

This is about the point on this list where the songs are still pretty decent, but the messages are a little splintered. The story of “That Ol’ Wind” is less than universal, although the imagery is at times breath-taking.

Rusty Jarrett, Getty Images

No. 45: “Midnight Sun” (2008)

OK, raise your hand if you remember this Top 40 song from 2008. Only his truest fans will, but the country ballad-turned-honkytonk swinger is worth hunting down.

Dave Sandford, Getty Images

No. 44: “Workin’ for a Livin'” (2007)

Maybe it was a cover, maybe it was a cover of a song that had its time. Maybe there’s too much harmonica, which never plays well on country radio … but we still have a soft spot for this forgotten duet with Huey Lewis. Can we request a “Hip to Be Square” cover next?

Liberty

No 43: “American Honky-Tonk Bar Association” (1993)

It’s a clever play on words that clipped along to create one of the highlights of Brooks’ mid-90s live show. Few will be turned off by AHBA, but even fewer will put it in a personal Top 10.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

No. 42: “The Call” (2013)

Very few radio stations played “The Call,” a live song with Trisha Yearwood. It’s a unique recording that showcases the playful love the two share. Lyrically it’s a middling ballad that relies on an inspired vocal performance.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

No. 41: “Mom” (2014)

“Mom” is the lesser of two mom songs in Brooks’ single catalog. The lyric is heavy-handed and syrupy, although those words are sure to offend an older crowd that was certainly willing to slurp the ballad up with a spoon. The Top 40 track from 2014 was the second released from Man Against Machine.

Kevin Winter, Getty images

No. 40: “Squeeze Me In” (2002)

This relatively little-known Top 20 single for Brooks is actually nabbed one of his 14 Grammy nominations, in the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals category in 2002. It’s one of a number of duets with Trisha Yearwood, but nowhere near our favorite.

Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images

No. 39: “That Girl Is a Cowboy” (2006)

Many of Brooks’ mid-to-late-00s radio singles are found in this range of our list. Lyrical quality varies, but none were good enough to break into the Top 10. “That Girl Is a Cowboy” was a Top 40 song on country radio.

Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

No. 38: “Why Ain’t I Running” (2003)

Kent Blazy and Tony Arata helped Brooks write “Why Ain’t I Running,” the final single from Scarecrow. It deserved more from the radio with a lyric and performance that recalls the singer’s best.

Chris Weeks, Getty Images

No. 37: “Wrapped Up in You” (2001)

The second single from Scarecrow is a light love song with a charming video you can’t find anymore, because Garth doesn’t do YouTube. Just trust us that it’s a strong middle-of-the-packer.

Capitol

No. 36: “When You Come Back to Me Again” (2000)

Brooks nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for a song he recorded for the Dennis Quaid movie Frequency. It’s a decent song that had some mild success at country radio, but is best known for the movie.

Liberty

No. 35: “What She’s Doing Now” (1991)

A brilliant vocal performance showcased the young singer’s talent and penchant for telling stories like he lived them. This is a fine song that many will argue deserves a higher placement.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

No. 34: “Thicker Than Blood” (2002)

Brooks is always at his best when inspired by family. In little ways he lets you into his childhood. It’s the emphasis he puts on important lyrics of this underrated Top 20 song.

Frank Micelotta Archive, Getty Images

No. 33: “You Move Me” (1998)

Unbridled emotion was commonplace for Brooks by the late ’90s. His newest love songs were inevitably compared to his previous hits. Thus how it is with “You Moved Me,” an inspiring statement of true love that still sounds right today.

NBC, Getty Images

No. 32: “Two Pina Coladas” (1998)

Popular? Sure. Good? Meh. “Two Pina Coladas” is a delightful diversion from Brooks’ deep, often heart-wrenching or rocking catalog, but the song is not one of his very best.

Pearl

No. 31: “Love Will Always Win” (2006)

If you knew this duet with Trisha Yearwood was nominated for a Grammy then you are a better Garth historian than we are. It’s true, but aside from that it never found a home. Yearwood put it on her Jasper County album and Brooks would later release it from The Lost Sessions, one of his many anthologies. It’s pretty, but the dominant emotion is “Oh yeah?”

Capitol

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No. 30: “Wild Horses” (2000)

Brooks’ rodeo songs have a special place in fans’ hearts because nobody does them any longer. This Top 10 wasn’t a single until long after its initial release.

L. Cohen, Getty Images

No. 29: “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” (1991)

It’s a light-hearted love song that’s maintained a place in the hearts of Brooks fans small and large. The dynamic vocal performance overcomes lyrics that are, several decades later, a bit cheesy.

Jeff Kravitz, Getty Images

No. 28: “She’s Gonna Make It” (1998)

Brooks always gravitated toward songs that celebrate women, especially after men do them wrong. This ballad was a radio hit even if it’s not considered one of his very best. It’s a very well-written story told aptly by one of country music’s best.

Pearl

No. 27: “Good Ride Cowboy” (2005)

Jerrod Niemann wrote this 2005 comeback hit for Brooks, a song that truly illustrates how un-retired Brooks was. It’s a tribute to Chris LeDoux but one wrapped in a honky-tonk packaging.

Pearl Records

No. 26: “Ask Me How I Know” (2017)

“Ask Me How I Know” is the best of Brooks’ singles from the last decade and his first No. 1 since “More Than a Memory” in 2007. The legend backed off for a performance that truly let the lyrics and songwriter shine.

Jeff Kravitz, Getty Images

No. 25: “Callin’ Baton Rouge” (1994)

While not a No. 1, this is one of Brooks’ signature songs and a live show staple. The fiddle playing is out of this world, but not imposing. A simple story of fresh love is almost unimportant during a song that’s all about energy.

Capitol

No. 24: “She’s Every Woman” (1995)

“She’s Every Woman” a hotly-debated topic in creating this list of Garth Brooks singles ranked. The track from Fresh Horses is true to the singer’s catalog and messaging, but more delicate. Victoria Shaw’s work with Brooks is underrated. He’s a different singer when approaching her songs.

Liberty

No. 23: “One Night a Day” (1994)

OK, certain songs have special places in the hearts of Garth Brooks’ fans despite their critical or commercial success. Maybe to you “One Night a Day” was kind of “meh.” Let us have this middle-of-the-pack ranking, won’t you!?

Martyn Goodacre, Getty Images

No. 22: “Not Counting You” (1989)

This is the only one of Brooks’ first 10 singles that one rarely finds him playing. “Not Counting You” might be a career song for an artist with a lesser catalog of hits. His third career single was a Top 5 song, but not nearly as good as the one that’d come next.

Gerard Burkhart, Getty Images

No. 21: “It’s Your Song” (1998)

This is the better of two clear mom-inspired performances. “It’s Your Song” is personal, but not heavy-handed. That’s a fine line to walk when all you want is to show an overwhelming commitment or loyalty.

Liberty

No. 20: “Learning to Live Again” (1993)

Really, how can you not love this story? “Learning to Live Again” is among Brooks’ most sympathetic songs with a twist that tears us apart every time.

Liberty

No. 19: “Somewhere Other Than the Night” (1992)

Brooks’ vulnerability during this ballad is palpable. It’s a stunning performance of a masterful lyric that finds a man realizing he’d been ignoring his wife’s emotional needs. Of course it reached No. 1.

Liberty

No. 18: “Papa Loved Mama” (1992)

On paper this rollicking hit is similar to “Somewhere Other Than the Night.” Both do, after all, feature a man who realizes he’d let his wife down. But their responses are very different, with Brooks’ character in this song going to jail for his wife’s murder. You wouldn’t think such a topic would be a live show highlight, yet here we are.

Capitol

No. 17: “The Change” (1996)

While just a Top 20 radio hit, “The Change” has nestled its way into the hearts and souls of so many fans. It’s a personal song that inspires. Longtime Garth tunesmith Tony Arata is at his best during this one.

Sherry Rayn Barnett, Getty Images

No 16: “Rodeo” (1991)

“Rodeo” is a live favorite for Brooks and his fans. The rowdy love song (kinda) isn’t our favorite of his rodeo-themed songs, but it’s probably his best live song from that group.

Pearl

No. 15: “More Than a Memory” (2007)

“More Than a Memory” debuted at No. 1, which is kind of a shame because it might be more memorable had it crawled up the charts more slowly. We blinked and he moved on! Like many of his late-career ballads the song relies on an emphatic performance. This is his best song of the 21st century.

Liberty

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No. 14: “Ain’t Going Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)” (1993)

Because we all know how great a song “Ain’t Goin’ Down” is, here’s a question: did this Garth Brooks’ hit inspire Dierks Bentley’s debut single “What Was I Thinkin’?”

Columbia

No. 13: “Shameless” (1991)

Brooks made this Billy Joel cut a hit on country radio, admitting that the song was a longshot. It lacks the structure so many country songs rely on, instead leaning against short, neatly packaged verses and a lot of country soul.

Capitol

No. 12: “The Beaches of Cheyenne” (1995)

“The Beaches of Cheyenne” combine two things Brooks does best: rodeo and heartbreak. One thing the legend does that no one else influenced by the circuit does is tell stories of the life of a cowboy, instead of cowboy stories. We may not want songs about horses, but we’ll take tales of those hurt by this chase all day long.

Liberty

No. 11: “We Shall Be Free” (1992)

Brooks stirred up controversy with a song that openly accepted any and everyone — radical thoughts in 1992! Years later the song feels hackneyed if anything, but it still resonates. Celebrate this message.

Getty Images

No. 10: “Standing Outside the Fire” (1993)

Garth can motivate like no other country singer in history. This song would make a fine graduation speech. In fact,, it may be the song that best defines this all-time great.

Capitol

No. 9: “To Make You Feel My Love” (1998)

What a brilliant, patient performance this is. Brooks’ ballad is a grown man’s kind of song — a younger singer simply could not have done it justice. “To Make You Feel My Love” would hit No. 1 and be nominated for a Grammy.

Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

No. 8: “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old” (1989)

The Oklahoma-raised singer debuted with this song and never looked back. It’s still a fan-favorite and one fans expect when they see him live. In a few verses and a chorus it spells out every path he’d take over the next 30 years.

Liberty

No. 7: “That Summer” (1993)

Oh Garth Brooks, behave! This lyric would make a fine Daniel Steele novel, but somehow it never felt tawdry when pushed forth by his strong, sensitive voice. Lyrically this is an all-timer — arguably his best.

Liberty

No. 6: “The River” (1992)

One could argue “The River” is his best as well. In fact almost every song that follows is a lyrical masterpiece that would have made another singer’s career. Brooks’ understated performance is long-lasting and inspiring.

Capitol

No. 5: “The Thunder Rolls” (1991)

You go to see Garth live to hear the third verse of “The Thunder Rolls.” Night after night he delivers a spine-tingling performance as theatric as it is haunting. Has there ever been a more unlikely hit? No one will say Garth Brooks is afraid to kill a man … in song.

Capitol

No. 4: “Unanswered Prayers” (1990)

Rare is the country song that truly covers new ground, but Brooks did it with this love song of a very different sort. Here the singer meets an old flame and thanks God the two never became one. Yes, we’ve all been there, but never had the words for it.

Ebet Roberts, Getty Images

No. 3: “If Tomorrow Never Comes” (1989)

Brooks and his longtime collaborator penned this song for his debut album. In fact, it was their first time together. He calls it a signature song. We’ll argue that the chart-topper is one of many.

Capitol

No. 2: “Friends in Low Places” (1990)

“Friends in Low Places” is perhaps the most famous song in country music history and if for no other reason it’s worthy of high placing on this list of Garth Brooks singles. The rowdy singalong will forever tie him to the blue collar crowd, country people.

Capitol

No. 1: “The Dance” (1990)

Brooks closed every stop on this 2014-17 North American tour with “The Dance,” his all-time biggest hit. It fits so many occasions. At once it can be inspiring, celebratory and mournful. He preaches this idea of leaning into the moment, be it one filled with pain or joy. Really, did you expect anything different to wind up at No. 1?

 

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