Kenny Previews His Summer Tour

Kenny Chesney’s Brothers of the Sun tour, featuriing Tim McGraw, won’t even begin until June 2nd, but he shared details of it with Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton.  First question: Who goes on first?  Tim or Kenny?  “Tim’s going to go on, then I’m going to go on, and then we’re going to be on together.  We haven’t figured out what songs we’re singing, but we know it’s going to be a long night.  We’re going to enjoy it, not take it for granted, try to give fans their money’s worth, and make it the best experience possible.”

LISTEN: 12-09 Kenny3

Kenny has known Tim for over 20 years.  The two met when they were struggling singers in Nashville, playing talent contests and singing demos. “We lived in the same apartment complex for a little while.  He already had a record deal, and was working on his first record when I got to town.  Even though he’s a friend of mine, I have a lot of respect for him.  The fact that we’re gonna be able to take all these years of friendship, and all the music we’ve made, and bring it to the stage for everybody this summer, it’s going to be a special moment in our careers and the fans.”

LISTEN: 12-09 Kenny1

What took you so long to do this?  “I think the timing was right. We’ve talked about the idea of doing it, but the timing was perfect, I didn’t know what we were gonna do, he didn’t know what he was gonna do, I said why don’t we think about how we can make this work.  And we did.  I’m so excited, I’m looking forward to this more than I ever have because of the music we’ll do.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Tim sings one of my songs in his show, or I sing one of his songs in my show.  We;re trying to come up with ways to give fans their money’s worth and make it a special night.”

How come Faith Hill isn’t on this show? “You have to ask Faith!  If she wants to come, she’s more than welcome.  If Tim doesn’t pull her on stage, I will.  That whole dynamic is gonna be so much fun.  I look at the two years I opened for George Strait, and then in 2001 I opened for Tim McGraw, and I look at those three summers as the time that changed my life.  It opened my eyes to what could be possible, gave me something to shoot for.  There was this hunger that I really wanted it.  You could feel it growing.”

You’re doing 19 stadiums but 20 shows, because there are 2 in Foxboro?  That’s right.  We may do two shows in a couple other places too.  The tour may extend a little.  But we’re doing two nights in Foxboro.  That is amazing.  Those people in New England are great.

Also, there are only stadium shows, not any amphitheaters or arenas.  And several stadiums you’ve never played: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Denver, Minneapolis, and Anaheim.  “To be in a new environment, and the fans who’re used to going those places have a special allegience with their teams.  It gives them another reason to go to those stadiums.  When we played Lambeau, some fans told us, ‘We’re glad you came here, because we don’t have season tickets, and we got to go inside Lambeau because you came here to play.’  When you go to someone’s city, there’s a certain pride that you’re in their city.  But when you play in the stadiums, their excited, and it’s interesting to seee that.”

Sat. June 2 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Sun. June 3 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome
Sat. June 9 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium
Sun. June 10 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium
Sat. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
Sat. June 23 – Nashville, TN – LP Field
Sun. June 24 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Sat. June 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field
Sun. July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – Paul Brown Stadium
Sat. July 7 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
Sun. July 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field
Sat. July 14 – Anaheim, CA – Angels Stadium
Sat. July 21 – Denver, CO – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Sat. July 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium 

Sun. July 29 – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium
Sat. August 11 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Sun. August 12 – Washington, DC – FedExField
Sat. August 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Sat. August 24-25 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium

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