Oliver Anthony Says “I Never Have To Work Again” Following Success Of “Rich Men North Of Richmond”
on Aug 09, 2024
Oliver Anthony Music took to social media on the one-year anniversary of his viral hit, “Rich Men North Of Richmond,” to reflect on his success.
On August 8, 2023, the world was introduced to Oliver Anthony Music, a Virginia man named Christopher Lunsford who put his frustration with politics and the state of our country to music and became one of the greatest viral success stories of our generation.
In an unprecedented and history-making moment, Lunsford’s life changed when a video of his self-penned song, “Rich Men North Of Richmond,” was uploaded to YouTube. Within days the video had racked up millions of views. The singer’s candor about the political climate and openness about his own battle with alcoholism and mental illness endeared him to listeners.
Lunsford’s music started a movement that launched him to superstardom and changed his and his family’s lives forever.
In the days and weeks that followed, Oliver Anthony Music sold out every venue he sang at, all while refusing to cave to the pressures or financial enticements of a record deal. He continued to release new music on streaming platforms and social media. And his fan base continued to grow.
RELATED: OLIVER ANTHONY MAKES BILLBOARD HOT 100 CHART HISTORY
Since then, he has made his Grand Ole Opry debut, sang for more than 70,000 fans at the Houston Rodeo, landed a two-night gig at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and embarked on a world tour that is taking him to more than 40 cities, including Stockholm, Sweden, and various stops across the UK.
Oliver Anthony Music, aka Chris Lunsford, has accomplished all of this while maintaining a modest home base in Virginia. This is where he filmed his viral music videos and where he and his wife are raising their three children.
In a video posted to social media on Thursday, August 8, Lunsford spoke to fans about the past year while wandering through his beloved Virginia property in the rain. He shared how much his life had changed and what was in store for him in the months to come.
Perhaps the most incredible news shared by Oliver Anthony was the impact the success of “Rich Men North Of Richmond” had on his life financially.
“I’m almost through this tour this year. I’ve done it without a label. I’ve done it without sponsors. I haven’t taken a dime from anyone … I never have to work again for the rest of my life … Just the interest I’ve made off the money already would at least buy my groceries and keep my family comfortable.”
He added, “That is the only financial goal I had – was just to be financially free. To not owe anything to a bank or to another man. To just have my land and my house with a roof that doesn’t leak. And a place that I can grow a garden and raise a few cows and sheep and be alive. And try to live my life the way my grandparents lived their lives.”
RELATED: OLIVER ANTHONY SINGS GEORGE STRAIT’S “AMARILLO BY MORNING”
The singer shared that he has taken some of the money he made from “Rich Men North Of Richmond” to purchase some abandoned farms in Virginia and is in the process of revitalizing them. Those farms will then become places where people can go to “learn how to can food and learn how to raise animals.”
“People who have just gotten out of rehab, vets with PTSD, people who are depressed and suicidal can come here and get reconnected with nature,” Lunsford said. “If I’m gonna make money off of ‘Rich Men’ and off this tour … I might as well spend it to try to do some good and try to create something that will exist long after I’m gone.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Oliver Anthony Music plans to perform a series of shows in towns across the country that “haven’t had music in a long time” due to financial and population deficits. He shared that his goal is to bring positive economic impact to rural areas that “desperately need it.”
Watch Oliver Anthony Music’s full update in the video below.
