Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/
Kenny Chesney Fans Website) -
Kenny Chesney walked away from the Academy of Country
Music Awards nominees announcements - broadcast live on CBS' 'The Early Show' - with nods for Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. The back-to-back and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, who saw Philadelphia 's Lincoln Financial Field Stadium sell out in 15 minutes this weekend, is once again in pursuit of the Academy's high honor.
'Somebody asked me, 'Doesn't this ever get old',' Chesney said with a laugh, 'and I have to tell you: No, it really doesn't. Being recognized for how hard this team works on the road, how much work the people who help me make my records put in... it's always great to be honored like this, because it recognizes everybody who helps contribute to this success.'
With 1.3 million fans played to last year, making his Cruzan Rum sponsored The Road & The Radio the most attended concert trek in North America last year - over even the Dave Matthews Band and the Rolling Stones, Chesney is on track to make 2007 even better. Already appearing in Sports Illustrated's celebrated Swim Suit issue and profiled on '60 Minutes,' ticket sales for his Flip Flop Summer Tour are brisk and 'Beer In Mexico,' the 5th single from his 3-million selling The Road & The Radio, is top 5 and gathering momentum.
'The ACM is one of those organizations that has been there all along, and they really care about this music and the people who make it,' Chesney, who is one of eight acts to enjoy the distinction of being a Triple Crown winner, says. 'I got to be their Top New Male Vocalist when I was starting out... and then a few years ago, I won Top Male Vocalist and Single... and then two years ago, it Entertainer, which is, you know, the ultimate. Just having them along for this ride has been great, so it's always wonderful to be honored like this.'
Having just wrapped the always freewheeling Keg in the Closet commando tour of college clubs around the Southeast Conference with an added blast through a few of the little bars in the Florida Keys, Chesney is raring to get back to technical rehearsals for his Flip Flop Summer Tour. With a road staff of nearly 200 people, it's a full-scale undertaking which requires precision and fluidity - something the singer/songwriter will have in full by the time to the tour kicks off April 12 in Omaha .
'We're getting ready for what feels like it's gonna be a great year,' Chesney says. 'You could feel the energy with the fans everywhere we popped up last week... and when you get to hear your name called, even at 7 o'clock in the morning for honors like this, well, you can't help but be into it. After all, when you're a kid dreaming the dream, you have no idea how it's gonna feel - and I gotta tell you, it's even better than anything I might've imagined.'
