There are still four more months until the calendar turns to 2012, but several country tours have already emerged as the year's most profitable. Billboard has ranked the Top 25 grossing tours of 2011 and two country tours landed in the Top 15, sharing space alongside the mainstream likes of U2, Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga and Usher! Country fans are notorious for their loyalty and for supporting their favorite acts by attending their live shows and these figures certainly attest to that fact.

The list tallies tour grosses from Nov. 1, 2010, and May 31, 2011, with Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal tour landing at No. 9 with more than $25 million in receipts over the course of 25 shows. That averages out to a million bucks per show. Clearly, fans are showing up in droves to see Chesney do his thang, as he rocks his way across the stage in stage uniform of a cowboy hat and shirts with the sleeves cut off.

The co-headline run featuring Reba McEntire and George Strait lodged itself into the No.15 slot, placing ahead of Metallica and Prince, among others. That particular tour raked in more than $17 million over the course of 17 shows. Whoever put that package together ought to be awarded a medal, because it certainly brought the cash in. Having two country legends, one from each gender, on one bill is a brilliant idea, as all facets of fans come out and are well served because of it.

Overall, these numbers prove one thing: country music is hotter than ever!

Watch the Kenny Chesney 'You and Tequila' Video

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