New York City, (Kenny Chesney Official Website) - With nearly 6 million fans played to over the past 5 summers - and more than 25 million albums sold, People magazine knew what they were doing when they asked reigning and back-to-back Academy of Country
Music Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney to grace the cover of a special issue they'd decided to do, showcasing Country Music's 25 Hottest Acts. Slated for 4 weeks on newsstands only, the special issue is dedicated to the face of today's biggest country stars… and the capture the excitement, they knew that catching up with the high energy performer on the road would embody what they were after.
'I was joking with somebody about it,' Chesney allows, 'because I couldn't believe they'd do it again (put me on the cover). But they sent us this great photographer named Danny Clinch, whose shot Springsteen and Johnny Cash and all these other people, and they really made a day out of it.'
Though pretty deep in the touring schedule, Chesney took the two days in Raleigh-Durham to get the piece done - and people will see a pretty full-spectrum sense of the enthusiasm, high spirits and good times that have always distinguished Chesney's tours. Known for keeping his ticket prices affordable out of respect for his fans, the Luttrell, Tennessean's fans have turned The Road & The Radio concerts - like Senoritas & Margaritas, Guitars, Tiki Bars & a Whole Lotta Love, When The Son Goes Down and No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems tours before it - into all-day events that start with plenty of tail-gaiting, hanging out and making new friends in the parking lots before the shows themselves.
'We were in a city, and these girls in the meet and greet line told me that they'd all gone off to college in different cities,' remembers the soft-spoken singer/songwriter. But, every summer since then, they all make it a point - no matter where they - to get together somewhere and come to one of our shows. For them, it's part of who they are, and that made me really happy, cause it's everything you hope your music will mean to people when this is done: your music had become a part of who they are.'
With 'You Save Me' climbing the charts and The Road & The Radio Tour 2006 done, Chesney has already begun work on next year's tour… With 9 football stadiums and 1.3 million fans played to this summer alone, you'd think he'd be slowing down; but instead he's gearing up for the '40th Annual Country Music Awards,' where he is nominated for Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, as well Album of the Year (for his approaching quadruple platinum The Road & The Radio) and Single of the Year (for the 5-week No 1 seasonal anthem 'Summertime'). Look for Chesney to perform on 'The 40th CMA Awards,' live Nov. 6th on ABC - and on newsstands late next week.
