No fear: For Kenny Chesney, life's a beach

12Volt · Post by **12Volt** » July 22, 2005 11:18 am

From Today's Boston Herald

No fear: For Kenny Chesney, life's a beach
By Christopher Blagg
Friday, July 22, 2005 - Updated: 09:46 AM EST

Boston is a long way from Nashville, but country music's newest megastar, Kenny Chesney, doesn't fear Beantown. In fact, he chose Boston - or Foxboro, to be exact - as one of only four cities where his current ``Somewhere in the Sun'' tour expands to stadium size.

Chesney, who became tabloid fodder recently when he married actress Renee Zellweger, is headlining the second annual New England Country Music Festival tomorrow at Gillette Stadium on a bill featuring Gretchen Wilson, Keith Urban and more.

Speaking by phone mid-tour, Chesney sounds unsurprised by his success in New England.

``We've been building toward this for years,'' he said. ``The last three or four years we've played the Tweeter Center and that just got huge. So it naturally grew into trying out the stadium show. We've got some passionate fans up there in New England. I remember the last couple shows we played in Boston as being one of the best nights of the whole summer.''

Chesney's widespread appeal has made him a country phenomenon not seen since Garth Brooks in his heyday. But Chesney shies away from anyBrooks comparisons.

`I have a very broad fan base,'' he said. ``A lot of people who don't listen to country music all the time are coming to my shows. So if there's one thing I've got in common with Garth, its that.''

The Tennessee native might own an unmistakable twang, but does a Bible Belt accent automatically define you as a country artist? Stylistically, Chesney is all over the place.

``I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, and did growing up,'' he said. ``People always ask me to make a rock record, but I tell them I don't know how. When I sing, it comes out that way. You can tell I grew up in East Tennessee.''

Chesneyadmits that what he plays is not pure country - and that just might be the secret to his popularity.

``I'm far from a hard-core country artist,'' he said. ``I've got steel drums in the band. I've got beach balls goin' throughout the whole show! I also like to rock people. When they come to see my show I want them to feel that kick drum in their chest. I'm not a pop artist, but I'm not a three-chord country artist either.''

If Chesney seems affable and incredibly laid-back, there's good reason. Chesney has found inspiration and a new home in the Caribbean. That explains why his tour's sponsor is Cruzan rum, not Jack Daniel's.

`I have always been drawn to the ocean, always had a love affair with the tropics, even as a little kid,'' Chesney said. ``Even though I'm from East Tennessee growing up in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, I'd rather be on a boat drifting around the Caribbean than anywhere.''

Last year Jimmy Buffett crossed over from beach bum troubadour to country artist. Chesney has done the reverse, transforming himself from

Tennessee country boy to Virgin Island crooner on his last few records. It's no coincidence that Chesney's rise to stardom came at the same time as his Caribbean epiphany.

``As a songwriter, I've become more comfortable talking about how I live my life in my songs,'' he said, ``and talking about my life down there. Now people have just a little bit more to hold onto than just a song on the radio. They're listening to my songs, but they're also seeing how I live my life.

``I think everybody deep down wants to hear the truth, no matter what it is, and once I was strong enough to let people see inside of me, that's when my life and career kind of took off.''

Chesney's island fever may distance him from the Toby Keiths and George Straits, but concerning himself with his place among his contemporaries is not his nature. Besides, he's too busy to worry about fitting in.

``All I'm worried about,'' he said, ``is making a great record and going out and playing music. I don't know where I fit, and I don't care either. We got a lot of people coming to hear us play, who are passionate about how our music has touched their lives, and thats all that matters.''

Kenny Chesney plays the second annual New England Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. with Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Pat Green, Uncle Kracker and Blaine Larsen. Tickets are $27.50-$72. Call 617-931-2000 or go to

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 22, 2005 11:21 am

Besides, he's too busy to worry about fitting in.

I'd think he'd be more worried about Renee making unkind comparisons about him with Jim Carrey.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 22, 2005 11:32 am

I was at KC's GW show last year. It *rocked*!!

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 22, 2005 11:33 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I was at KC's GW show last year. It *rocked*!!

I heard rumours that Renee shakes the dresser drawer he sleeps in for the same effect...

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » July 22, 2005 11:34 am

RinglingRingling wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I was at KC's GW show last year. It *rocked*!!
I heard rumours that Renee shakes the dresser drawer he sleeps in for the same effect...

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » July 22, 2005 11:36 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I was at KC's GW show last year. It *rocked*!!
I heard rumours that Renee shakes the dresser drawer he sleeps in for the same effect...

oh come on.. nothing's too good for her little man...

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » July 23, 2005 1:24 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:I was at KC's GW show last year. It *rocked*!!
I heard rumours that Renee shakes the dresser drawer he sleeps in for the same effect...

Now, that's funny.