
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. (CMT/ www.cmt.com) - Country music's hottest artist, Kenny Chesney, gives CMT viewers an advance performance of many of the songs from his highly anticipated album "
Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair" in a live CMT special.
The reigning Country
Music Association (CMA) "Entertainer of the Year" and winner of the CMA "Album of the Year" and the American
Music Awards "Fan's Choice Award" performs a live one-hour special, KENNY CHESNEY: BE AS YOU ARE, premiering Saturday, Jan. 22 at 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT.*
Chesney gives CMT viewers the first ever performance of songs from his new album, to be released on Jan. 25. Easily Chesney's most personal album, "Be As You Are" celebrates the life stories, moments and lessons he's learned during his time spent off the road in the Caribbean.
"I don't think people really understand how the islands have affected me," says Chesney. "This record is kind of about that; what it means, who these people are. It's not just a party place, or drinks with umbrellas and coconut milk. That's part of it, absolutely, but it's just a different rhythm, a different way of looking at the world - and it has a lot to do with me being able to do what I do out there on the road."
Chesney has sold over 20 million albums. Both his "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems," and "Greatest Hits" are certified quadruple platinum. His triple platinum "When the Sun Goes Down" is the third best selling album of 2004 behind Usher and Norah Jones, debuting at the top of Billboard's all-genre Top 200 Album chart with sales of well over half a million in the first week. Billboard magazine recognized Chesney as the No. 1 selling country artist of 2004.
Chesney's 2004 tour played to more fans than anyone other than Prince, who sold 1.4 million concert tickets compared to the singer/songwriter from Luttrell, Tenn. who ran a close second with nearly 1.2 million.