Kenny Chesney came in at number 6 on Billboard's list of the top grossing tours of 2008, earning a reported $86 million. The only other mainstream country act in the top ten was Rascal Flatts, who came in at tenth place, with sales of $55.8 million.

Also in the top ten were two acts with broad appeal among country fans. The Eagles came in just ahead of The Flatts, with $56.6 million. And Bon Jovi's Lost Highway world tour topped the list with a whopping $210.6 million. Bon Jovi drew well over 2 million fans in North America and Europe between November 2007 and November 2008.

Here's the entire list:

Bon Jovi -- $210.6 million

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band -- $204.5 million

Madonna -- $162 million

The Police -- $150 million

Celine Dion -- $91 million

Kenny Chesney -- $86 million

Neil Diamond -- $81.2 million

Spice Girls -- $70 million

Eagles -- 56.6 million

Rascal Flatts $55.8 million

Industry wide, gross earnings reported to Billboard Boxscore totaled slightly less than $4 billion worldwide, the most ever for a year and up almost 13 percent over last year. However, actual concert attendance was down 2% in North America, which perhaps can be attributed to the fact that there were fewer shows than in 2007.

Montgomery Gentry rose to the top of the Mediabase/Country Aircheck singles charts last week with "Roll With Me," and they remain there again this week. Eddie Montgomery tells us that the song's success is very satisfying, but no more so than learning that it is becoming a fan favorite, especially with members of the military. "We just had a party back home for a boy that I was seeing come up through school and stuff that had been over in Iraq. I know his mom and dad real well, and watched him play football and stuff at the high school level. You know, him coming up and telling that his whole unit listens to MG and what that song means to them. You can't get an award no better than that."

Montgomery explains that from the moment he heard "Roll With Me," he knew it would be a song with a strong impact. And to see that happen has been rewarding. "There's no award in the world that when someone comes up and goes, 'you don't know what this song done for me.' That's when it goes, you feel it in your soul, you go like, 'Okay, I'm doing the right thing.'"

In a video at hearsomethingcountry.com/green, Brad Paisley states, "This is probably the worst idea we've ever had." He's referring to his new promotion, in which he is encouraging fans to create their own video for his song "Play," using green screen technology.

Paisley taped footage of himself playing in front of a green screen, and is offering it as a download. With specialized editing software, the screen can be taken out, and other video put in its place, thus allowing Paisley to fly through space, play on stage with the Rolling Stones, or have aliens as bandmembers. The possibilities are practically endless, and potentially funny, disturbing, brilliant and/or embarrassing.

Paisley will pick his favorite videos and post them at bradpaisley.com. He is also offering the winner a hi-def Sony camcorder. Ten runners-up will receive flip video cameras.

Paisley loves to edit video, and edits much of the extensive video footage used in his stage shows.

The contest has been extended to January 19th.

The website -- hearsomethingcountry.com/green -- encourages amateur video editors to learn more about green screen, and lists several editing programs they can use.

As a band, the guys of Emerson Drive have already treated themselves to a much appreciated, and very expensive, Christmas gift. They purchased a new bus, after watching the odometer on their long-term 'home away from home' turn over a million miles. But we asked the guys, if Santa was in a giving, generous mood, what would be on their dream holiday wish list.

Mike Melancon was practical with the question. He told us he would ask for a private jet, which he would turn around immediately and sell for the cash. Dale Wallace was also practical, figuring that Santa wouldn't bring him what he wanted. So he told us that he had already bought his own gift. "I bought myself a Christmas gift the other day. I'm waiting for it to be shipped right now. It's the Amish-made heat surge fireplace, have you heard of those? I bought myself a fireplace, a plug-in fireplace. Nice."

Danick Dupelle and Brad Mates allowed themselves to imagine the possibilities. And for Dupelle, that possibility led him to his dream guitar. "(Dupelle) A '59 Les Paul. I just saw one on Ebay for $385,000. (Mates) That's a nice gift. (Dupelle) That's a really nice gift. I'll take that. (Mates) My gift or something that someone could give me, it would be the Christmas tree off the family Christmas Vacation with Clark W. Griswold. It's the gift that keeps on giving. (Dale Wallace) Wow. I want Christie Brinkley. (laughs)"

But new dad David Pichette figures he's already gotten the best gift he could ask for. His new daughter Emma Victoria. He said, "The only thing I want, really, is just a healthy baby. That is really all I need this year. Ask me next year, and maybe I'll have something material. I'll be like, yeah, I want a Harley or something. But this year, I just want a healthy baby."

A short blurb in The New Republic speculating that Tennessee Democrats were courting Tim McGraw to run for governor in 2010 caused a media storm over the weekend. But McGraw's publicist denies that he is considering running for office in two years. The truth is, McGraw has expressed considerable interest in running for governor of his adopted state. But he told us back in October that he was "much too young." And he has stated in other interviews that he would wait for his daughters to grow up before considering taking the plunge into politics.

McGraw told us that being a public servant is "a very high calling" and that sincere politicians are very rare and special people. McGraw feels that he has been blessed by the people who have supported his music, and he sees running for public office as a way to give back to his community.

Trace Adkins appears on the syndicated show The Doctors today to discuss his daughter Brianna's food allergies, and to raise awareness about the extreme dangers of the condition. Adkins also appears in an informational video, along with several children and the show's real-life doctors, aimed at educating people that food allergies can be deadly. It can be seen at, and forwarded from, thedoctorstv.com. Adkins is a spokesperson for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and promoted the organization extensively during his appearance on the first season of Celebrity Apprentice.

The Doctors is syndicated. Check listings for channel and air time.