Kenny Chesney Finds New Place to Play

Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony BMG Nashville.

April 29, 2009 — He’s filled stadiums, won multiple Entertainer of the Year awards and co-produced a Willie Nelson album, but Kenny Chesney is still finding new ways to showcase his music. On May 12, he’ll tape his first-ever appearance on the concert series "Austin City Limits," now in its 35th year on PBS.

The list of acts that has have played the show is loaded with heavyweights: Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Ray Charles, John Mayer, Coldplay, the Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban and Willie, who was the very first artist to appear.

"There is so much history when you look back at the artists who've played 'Austin City Limits' over the years," Kenny says. "If you wanna know about American music, about Texas music, about music that comes out of the South — whether it's the Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic, or songwriters like Jackson Browne and John Prine, Western swing like Asleep at the Wheel or classic country like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette — that's the place you go."

It’s a good time for Kenny to visit "Austin City Limits." One week after he shoots the installment, he releases his second greatest-hits album, featuring 15 new tracks, including the current single "Out Last Night."

"I can't think of a better place to revisit the songs of the past eight years," he says. "'Austin City Limits’ is all about the music, and these songs — for me — have certainly withstood the test of time. What a great place to play them and get to consider what they've meant to me and a lot of other people."

In the meantime, Kenny continues the Sun City Carnival Tour this weekend in Texas, playing San Antonio, Dallas and Houston with Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum.