Kenny Chesney: Boogie on Reggae Tootsie's

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony BMG Nashville.

Nov. 12, 2008 — One of the odd aspects of performing on awards shows is their done-and-run feel — the artist gets revved up enough to do one song and then it’s all over.

That didn’t sit well with Kenny Chesney when he rehearsed with Bob Marley’s former band, the Wailers, Monday for the "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" at Nashville’s Sommet Center. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge was just across the street, and Kenny had an impromptu idea to keep the music going. And he did, setting up a free show that same night at the hole in the wall that once entertained Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Marty Robbins.

"It was two pieces of pretty amazing history in one place," Kenny said after Bob Marley’s former band backed him through a series of country and reggae classics. "You look at the pictures on the walls, and you realize who's been on that stage, sat at the bar, laughed, lied, got drunk, told stories and wrote some songs .... and then you look at [the Wailers], and you think about all the places they've been, and you're just blown away by it all."

It was quite the night. Mac McAnally joined Kenny to run through their current duet, "Down The Road," and Kid Rock showed up to belt out Gregg Allman’s "Midnight Rider," the Kid’s "Cowboy" and David Allan Coe’s "You Never Even Called Me By My Name." The Wailers also backed such diverse numbers as Marley’s "One Love," Kenny’s "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven," Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Gimme Three Steps" and Alabama’s "Dixieland Delight."

Kenny and the Wailers are slated to perform "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" during the CMA honors, where Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will co-host.