Why Fans Love Kenny Chesney

We just recently saw Kenny for the third time on August 11 in Raleigh. Our city is one of the lucky few that gets a double shot of the man from Luttrell TN!! Anyway, he always puts on a great show and this one was no different. He had the crowd on their feet the entire time. It was actually pretty overwhelming to look around and see that many people rockin' out to his show.

My husband and I had always heard that sometimes before his shows, he would ride through the parking lot just to say thanks to his fans. Since the show was on a Friday night, we both left work early and were unable to "tailgate" like we wanted, but nonetheless we got out to the parking lot around 4:30 p.m. About 5 p.m., the other couple that was hanging out with us noticed a golf cart riding by and yelled, "It's Kenny!" We were so stoked, thinking he would just ride on by, but the golf cart turned around and rode right by our car! I'm sure he thought we were completely stupid, but he was like five feet away from us!

That was a cool moment for us as fans of his, to see that he appreciates the support his fans give--enough to take the time to hang out in the parking lot with us. Kenny, my husband and I will be fans for life! Here's to the Islands!
Val Holland

I attended my first Kenny Chesney concert this summer in Seattle. What an experience it was. The weather was perfect, around 80 degrees with a nice breeze from Puget Sound, a great view of Mount Rainier and the best views of the city from Qwest Field.

The four of us girls spent the afternoon "tailgating" in the parking lot, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kenny driving around in his golf cart, as rumored from past shows. We were not fortunate enough to share a cold beverage with Kenny, but had to settle on talking on the phone with Gretchen Wilson, upon a visit by her equipment driver.

The opening acts were all great--but the mood changed as Gretchen left the stage. The sun began to set, all the people milling around got settled into their seats, and the anticipation began. And then, just as dusk settled in, the lights came on, 45,000 plus fans screaming at the top of their lungs. Everyone on the floor stood in their seats. When Kenny rose up in the middle of the stadium singing "Summertime"--wow what a feeling. That kicked off two hours of pure fun and great songs, (sung by both Kenny and the audience), some witty banter, and some great comments about our city by Kenny. We didn't want it to end, but then when "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" started and Kenny was joined onstage by Dierks and John Rich, we knew it was only a matter of time. A thank you, a wave goodbye and see you next year closed the evening.

It was a day I won't forget. I count the days until next year's concert, but I will always remember my first.
Leslie Bjornestad

I attended Kenny's second performance in Raleigh, NC on August 12 and I must say it was just as good as I remember when I saw him the first time at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC July 14, 2000. Needless to say I have been a Kenny fan for a truly long time. Being from a very small town in North Carolina where you drive an hour to get to a "big" city (Charlotte or Greensboro) I can relate to more than one of his songs. His song "Small town" rings true for me. As soon as I graduated from high school I was out of here and headed for bigger things. I ended up in Jacksonville, Fla which was a big change and one I wasn't ready for. I met the "man of my dreams"--at least I thought--until the holidays rolled around and I was dreadfully homesick for my family and friends.

I still thank him today for breaking my heart and sending me home to my "Small Town" where I did meet the man of my dreams. We enjoy the small town life, our kids, and our small town beaches where we grew up on the coast of the "Carolinas" where Kenny also used to visit.

I want to thank him as a person for giving up that simple life to give us great music. I can't imagine the sacrifices you have made-your privacy, your relationships, your name in the tabloids every time you go out for coffee--you are truly a great person. After going to that concert Saturday night the topic going home with my friend was not how "hot" you were on stage--it was do your fans truly realize how much you have given up and how life is great for you, but at the same time you don't always get to enjoy the things we take for granted on a daily basis.

Thank you, Kenny. I know you will still be around when my girls get a little older and I will tell them about mommy going to your concerts and how I got to meet you backstage in Myrtle beach, SC July 14, 2000. I can't wait for your albums yet to come. When you get married, have children and experience all the things in life that are yet to come for you, these are the songs I can't wait to hear! Thank you for being you and thank you for all you do.
Amy Morris

I like Kenny Chesney's song "Who You'd Be Today" because almost three years ago, I lost my stepmom to a drunk driver and she was only 24. My little brother got hit too and almost died six times. Then he went to the hospital because he was in a coma. When I went up there to see him he looked so bad with all the machines hooked up that I started to cry. I began to think, 'I don't want to lose him.' He was 11 when this all happened to him. That song reminds me of my stepmom though, and I cry every time I hear it.
Holly Ann Jones

When I saw Kenny come up in the center of the field I thought I was going to faint! I have never been so excited to see a performer yet, and I am 38 years old. My husband just stood back and let me scream. It was just like the old reels of The Beatles and all the women going crazy when they came on stage. Kenny I love you and those sexy arms!
Carrie Asplund

It is hard deciding which is my favorite video from Kenny, but I guess I would have to say "Who You'd Be Today." I love them all, but this one has touched me the most thus far. I have been following Kenny's career since 2003. I have seen him in concert three times, one time with each tour since 2003. My favorite concert experience to date would be in 2005 when I took my oldest daughter for her eighth birthday. That was her wish--to see Kenny in concert.

We saw Kenny at Rupp Arena in Lexington Ky. It took 10 hours to get there. We left early that morning, took our Kenny CDs and DVDs and hit the road. We made posters along the way. I let her pick out a shirt at the concert as part of her gift. When we got to the arena, we recognized Mr. Ed Wanebo (Kenny's production manager). We gave him a poster to give to Kenny, and then by a miracle, we saw Mr. David Farmer (Kenny's tour manager /best bud) and explained why we were there.

I had gotten our tickets through the fan club, but good ole Mr. Farmer gave us tickets to the pit. Oh what a night! He even came to the pit during the show to check on us. During the show, my daughter saw Uncle Kracker. She left the pit and ran up to him. She introduced myself and her to him. He signed her poster, shook her hand, and gave us both a guitar pick. She was also given a beach ball, and a teen tried to swap her for it. She talked about it for days.

So I just wanted to say, even though we didn't get to meet Kenny like we tried to, we had the best experience thus far. Our dream is to one day get to meet him. Kenny, keep up the good work! We are looking forward to the live album. See ya next tour! By the way, the show was awesome!
Love,
Tracey and Katie Garner

Hi, My name is Lauren and I am 16 years old and live in Millis, Massachusetts. I went to a Kenny Chesney concert a few weeks ago and the show was amazing. From the very first song to the very last, my friend and I sang along to every word. Every song he sang was incredible, especially "Summertime," "Live Those Songs," "I Go Back" and "Anything But Mine".

"Anything But Mine" is especially important to me because the song relates almost exactly to my experience from last summer when I vacationed with my family in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. I met a boy from Cleveland, Ohio and spent every day with him until the day that we both had to go back home. I haven't seen him since that summer, but I miss him a lot and am glad to have had great memories with him. Anyways, this is only one of the many songs from Kenny that I can relate to. His lyrics are so real and true and really touch my soul. Not to mention he has a beautiful voice. I just want to say how talented he is to be able to capture such moments in his songs the way that he does. It's amazing.
Thanks!
Lauren Corley

Back in May of 2006, my husband had a convention at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, so we took the kids out of school and drove cross country. On this trip we set goals on what we wanted the children to see. One of the things my husband wanted to do was to take the children to a concert on the beach at Mandalay Bay. When he looked into it he found that tickets were very expensive so he pretty much gave up on this goal.

When we arrived in Vegas and settled into our room, we saw a postcard that said, "Free Kenny Chesney mini concert." We looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders and basically said, "Who?" We figured he was some local guy (okay, so we're not into country). However, local or not, my husband was all excited because he could scratch "concert at Mandalay Bay" off the to-do list.

When we arrived outside on the beach, we ran into a person whom my husband thought was security so he asked him if the children were allowed to attend the concert. He said yes and as the conversation continued, we found out that he was a guitar player for Kenny (talk about just a little embarrassed!). After the guy left and we basically picked ourselves up from the floor, we entered the beach.

On the beach was a huge sign that read, "Photos will be taken and anyone on the beach grants permission for the use of these photos." We found out that Kenny Chesney was this huge country star and that he was filming a song for the award show which was also in Vegas. The six of us (four kids) stood for hours in cold water practicing over and over the song, "Summertime." The whole experience was something that the children, simply put, hold onto.

The day after the concert, I took them to the children's museum. In the museum was a stage where they relived that concert from everything to the cameras to the practicing of the song. When we got home, I had to go on the 'net to find out who this Kenny was. What fun it has been! To my kids, he is now known as the 'old guy'--but don't take any offense, I am 41 and my youngest is three and my oldest is 10 --they call me old too! We are now official fans for life of Kenny Chesney.
Gina Naylor