Kenny Chesney performs during the 43rd Annual ACM Awards Sunday, May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. Photo courtesy of Getty Images and the Academy of Country Music.
July 18, 2008 — Kenny Chesney put 14 stadium dates on his itinerary for this year, and the rush of playing in front of 40,000 or 50,000 fans creates a unique perspective. There’s an emotional build-up to the concert, but there’s also a bit of a let-down when the night comes to its conclusion with the band playing the Edgar Winter Group’s instrumental "Frankenstein."
"We do build it up," Kenny told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I do, anyway, because I know that moment, the two hours that I'm up there, I've got to be able to do my best. So everything I do during the week to get ready for that show is based on that moment. I don't go out, I don't talk a lot. I really try to prepare."
The preparation usually results in a huge communion between Kenny and his fans during the concert. But that inevitably is followed by a separation from the crowd when it comes time to head back to the bus.
"In Nashville," he noted, "50,000 people were out there. And I woke up the next morning, and it was over."
Not over completely, though. There are more stadium dates remaining on Kenny’s itinerary. That includes Saturday’s performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, where the lineup also features Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Sammy Hagar and Gary Allan.