Oliver Anthony's departure from the music industry may come as quick and unexpected as his entrance.

The "Rich Men North of Richmond" singer says he's leaving the industry, but that doesn't mean he's done making music.

  • Anthony burst into the public conscience in July 2023 when the RadioWV YouTube channel published an acoustic video of him singing "Rich Men North of Richmond."
  • The next month, the song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • Last Easter, he released his debut album, Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind.

The 32-year-old didn't announce the decision as much as he got to it while replying to fans that commented on a recent social media video. On Nov. 2, he'll play a hurricane relief concert in Morgantown, W.V. It's part of the new Rural Revival Project initiative he's leading.

Here's the post, followed by what he said:

Responding to a comment that he's "everything that is right in the music industry," Anthony says, "I'm in the process of getting out of the music industry. It's a big joke."

Credit Whiskey Riff for being first to unpack that news from the 360-plus comments that followed the post. Anthony's plan, he says, is to focus on traveling ministry work.

"It's all part of this Rural Revival thing. I just have to go at it in baby steps since it's completely DIY," he shares.

It's not clear which parts of the music industry he'll be abandoning. Since "Rich Men" dropped, he's done very few interviews and remained independent, even though he's rumored to have gotten very lucrative offers from record labels.

Touring and songwriting seem to be on the table still — maybe he'll just find other ways to publish and distribute?

"I'll still be releasing music just like normal," Anthony says to someone with similar questions. "I'll just be set up legally as a ministry."

Anthony's last release was "Cowboys and Sunsets," released to Spotify and other platforms in June. He's been touring heavily all year and just announced an extensive European tour for early 2025.

Top 20 Songs of 2024, Ranked (So Far)

New country artists rule this Top Country Songs of 2024 list, but that doesn't mean traditional country isn't represented early and often.

Zach Top and Ella Langley are two newcomers that purists may enjoy, while fans of more progressive country music will appreciate Jelly Roll, Post Malone and Shaboozey.

Airplay charts, sales data and streaming numbers helped make this list of country music's Top 20 Songs of 2024, but staff and Taste of Country reader opinion were most influential.

Songs included on previous Top Country Songs lists were not eligible. A song may have been released in 2023, but it had to have the majority of recorded airplay or impact this year to count.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

See Photos of Oliver Anthony's Ryman Auditorium Debut

On Wednesday (Feb. 21), Oliver Anthony played the first of two back-to-back nights at the Mother Church, aka the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Flip through the gallery below to see the "Rich Men North of Richmond" star step onto the hallowed stage for the very first time.

Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

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