Eddie Montgomery Net Worth

What Is Eddie Montgomery's Net Worth?

Eddie Montgomery is an American country music singer and songwriter who has a net worth of $10 million.

Eddie Montgomery is best known as the surviving member of Montgomery Gentry, the country duo he formed with Troy Gentry in the late 1990s. Blending mainstream country with Southern rock and honky-tonk, Montgomery Gentry became one of the most successful country duos of the 2000s. Their hits included "My Town," "Gone," "Something to Be Proud Of," "Lucky Man," "Hell Yeah," "Where I Come From," and five #1 country singles: "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," "Something to Be Proud Of," "Lucky Man," "Back When I Knew It All," and "Roll with Me." Three of the duo's studio albums – "Tattoos & Scars," "My Town," and "You Do Your Thing" – were certified Platinum, while "Carrying On" and "Some People Change" went Gold. Montgomery Gentry won CMA Vocal Duo of the Year in 2000, received the ACM Award for Top New Vocal Duo or Group, and became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 2009. After Gentry died in a helicopter crash in 2017, Montgomery continued performing under the Montgomery Gentry name. He later released his first solo album, "Ain't No Closing Me Down," while continuing to tour as Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery.

Early Life

Gerald Edward Montgomery was born on September 30, 1963, in Danville, Kentucky. He grew up in a musical family. His father, Harold Montgomery, played guitar, and his mother played drums in the family band, Harold Montgomery and the Kentucky River Express.

Eddie began performing with his parents while still a child and eventually took over as the band's drummer. His younger brother, John Michael Montgomery, also showed considerable musical ability and would go on to become a major country star in his own right.

The Montgomery family spent a great deal of time playing bars and honky-tonks around Kentucky. Eddie has joked that he and his siblings essentially grew up in nightclubs, surrounded by musical equipment and musicians.

As teenagers and young adults, Eddie and John Michael formed the band Early Tymz. Troy Gentry, another aspiring Kentucky musician, eventually joined them. The group later evolved into Young Country, with John Michael taking the lead vocalist role.

When John Michael Montgomery left to pursue a solo career, Eddie spent time working with his brother's touring operation while continuing to pursue music of his own. Gentry also attempted a solo career and won the Jim Beam National Talent Contest in 1994, which gave him opportunities to open concerts for established country acts.

When Gentry was unable to secure the solo record deal he wanted, he reunited with Eddie.

Formation of Montgomery Gentry

Montgomery and Gentry initially performed as a duo called Deuce. Their live shows developed a following in the Kentucky club circuit, combining country music with the louder Southern-rock influences both men had grown up listening to.

They eventually adopted the name Montgomery Gentry and secured a recording contract with Columbia Nashville.

The duo stood apart from much of the polished country-pop that dominated radio during the late 1990s. Eddie supplied a rough, booming baritone and highly physical stage presence, while Troy brought a smoother vocal style and guitar playing. Their influences included Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Charlie Daniels.

Montgomery also developed a distinctive performance style that included spinning and swinging his microphone stand around the stage.

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"Tattoos & Scars"

Montgomery Gentry released their debut album, "Tattoos & Scars," in 1999.

The record introduced the duo with "Hillbilly Shoes," which reached the Top 20 on the country chart. "Lonely and Gone" became their first Top Five hit, while "Daddy Won't Sell the Farm," "Self Made Man," and the Charlie Daniels collaboration "All Night Long" also charted.

"Tattoos & Scars" eventually received Platinum certification for sales of more than one million copies in the United States.

The album's success turned Montgomery Gentry into one of country's most prominent new acts. In 2000, they won the American Music Award for Favorite New Country Artist and the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Duo or Group.

That same year, Montgomery Gentry won the Country Music Association's Vocal Duo of the Year award, ending Brooks & Dunn's eight-year winning streak in the category.

"Carrying On" and "My Town"

Montgomery Gentry followed its debut with "Carrying On" in 2001.

The album reached the Top 10 on the country albums chart and was certified Gold. Its biggest single, "She Couldn't Change Me," climbed to #2 on the country chart.

The duo's commercial profile grew substantially with 2002's "My Town." The album produced three major hits: "My Town," "Speed," and "Hell Yeah," all of which reached the Top Five on the country chart.

"My Town" earned Platinum certification and became one of the defining albums of Montgomery Gentry's career.

During this period, the duo became a major touring act. They joined Brooks & Dunn's "Neon Circus & Wild West Show" and spent time touring with Kenny Chesney before becoming consistent headliners themselves.

"You Do Your Thing"

Montgomery Gentry reached another commercial peak with the 2004 album "You Do Your Thing."

Its lead single, "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," became the duo's first #1 country hit. The album also produced "Gone," which reached the Top Five, and "Something to Be Proud Of," which became their second #1.

"You Do Your Thing" reached #2 on the country albums chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. It was eventually certified Platinum.

By this point, Montgomery Gentry had established a recognizable formula built around blue-collar themes, rural life, family, independence, and a mixture of country and Southern rock.

Songs such as "My Town" and "Something to Be Proud Of" became particularly enduring parts of their live shows.

More #1 Hits

The 2006 album "Some People Change" gave Montgomery Gentry another run of major country hits.

The title track reached the Top 10, while "Lucky Man" became their third #1 single. "What Do Ya Think About That" reached #3. "Lucky Man" later earned the duo a Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

"Some People Change" was certified Gold.

Their 2008 album "Back When I Knew It All" produced two consecutive #1 singles. The title track reached the top of the country chart, followed by "Roll with Me," giving Montgomery Gentry their fifth #1.

Other songs from the period included "One in Every Crowd" and "Long Line of Losers."

Grand Ole Opry

One of the duo's most important career milestones came in 2009 when Montgomery Gentry was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Eddie and Troy were formally inducted on June 23, 2009, with Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens and Marty Stuart participating in the ceremony.

For Montgomery, whose career had begun playing in his family's Kentucky bar band, membership in the Opry represented one of country music's highest honors.

Montgomery Gentry was subsequently inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Later Montgomery Gentry Albums

After leaving Columbia Nashville, Montgomery Gentry signed with Average Joes Entertainment and released "Rebels on the Run" in 2011. The album included "Where I Come From," which became another Top 10 country hit and later developed into one of the duo's most streamed songs.

They released "Folks Like Us" in 2015.

Although their commercial peak had passed, Montgomery and Gentry remained active touring musicians with a large catalog of recognizable country hits and a dedicated live audience.

They continued recording together in 2017 and completed vocals for a new album just days before a tragedy dramatically altered Montgomery's life and career.

Troy Gentry's Death

On September 8, 2017, Troy Gentry died in a helicopter crash in Medford, New Jersey. He was 50 years old.

Montgomery Gentry had been scheduled to perform that evening, and Eddie was not aboard the helicopter.

Gentry's death ended a musical partnership and friendship that stretched back more than three decades. Montgomery initially questioned whether he could continue performing without the man who had stood beside him for virtually his entire professional career.

He ultimately remembered a pact the two had made: if something happened to one of them, the other would keep Montgomery Gentry going.

Rather than hire another singer as Gentry's direct replacement, Montgomery continued with their longtime backing band and shared some of Troy's former vocal parts among band members.

"Here's to You" and "Outskirts"

Montgomery and Gentry had completed their vocals for the album "Here's to You" only two days before Gentry died.

The album was released in February 2018. One of its most poignant songs was "Better Me," featuring Gentry on lead vocals.

Montgomery returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage and began touring again, continuing to perform under the Montgomery Gentry name in tribute to his longtime partner.

Additional songs that Montgomery and Gentry had recorded before the crash were released in 2019 as "Outskirts." The project included "King of the World," "River Take Me," "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive," and the title track.

Those recordings represented some of Gentry's final studio performances.

Solo Career

Montgomery eventually began recording music under his own name while still maintaining his connection to Montgomery Gentry.

His debut solo album, "Ain't No Closing Me Down," arrived in 2021. The project was created with members of Montgomery Gentry's longtime backing band and continued the country-rock sound that had defined his career.

The album included "Alive and Well," "My Son," "That's the Kinda Man I Am," "She Just Loves Me," and the title track. Tanya Tucker joined Montgomery on "Higher."

"My Son" was written for the Western film "Old Henry" but took on deeply personal meaning for Montgomery because of the losses he had experienced in his own family.

He subsequently released music including "Thank a Beer Drinker," "Cost of Being Me" with Bryan Martin, and the "Home Run" EP.

Montgomery has continued performing live under the billing Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery, preserving both the group's music and Gentry's place in its history.

Restaurant

Montgomery also ventured into the restaurant business during the height of his music career.

He owned Eddie Montgomery's Steakhouse in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The large country-themed restaurant and entertainment venue featured steaks, live music, and memorabilia associated with Montgomery's career.

The restaurant eventually closed in 2013.

Health

In 2010, Montgomery was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He underwent surgery later that year and subsequently announced that the cancer had been successfully removed. He was declared cancer-free following treatment.

The diagnosis came during an especially difficult period in Montgomery's personal life, as his marriage was also ending at the time.

Personal Life

Montgomery married Jennifer Belcher in 2014.

He has endured several devastating personal losses. One of his sons died in a car accident at the age of three in 1991. In 2015, his 19-year-old son Hunter died following an accidental drug overdose.

Two years later, Montgomery lost Troy Gentry in the helicopter crash.

Montgomery drew on those experiences while writing and recording songs including "Alive and Well" and "My Son."

Country music remains a family business for the Montgomerys. Eddie's younger brother John Michael Montgomery became a multi-Platinum country star, while his nephews Walker Montgomery and Dillon Carmichael have also pursued careers as country singers.

After more than two decades of hit records, awards, touring, and personal tragedy, Eddie has continued carrying the Montgomery Gentry name forward rather than treating Troy Gentry's death as the end of the act they built together.

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