Kenny Chesney was stunned to hear Taylor Swift remembered his kind act from the beginning of her career.
Taylor Swift is one of the biggest names in the music industry across the board. In 2023, Taylor Swift was named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year, and during her interview, she noted a pivotal moment in her career with Kenny Chesney.
Chesney had asked 17-year-old Taylor Swift to join him on tour, but because an alcohol brand sponsored the tour, she had to get the boot from the bill. It’s hard to have a major beer company sponsor a tour with a minor on stage. Chesney was devastated to have to give Swift the boot from the tour, but instead of bidding her farewell, he made sure she was compensated for the heartbreak of not being able to tour.
“[It said] ‘I’m sorry that you couldn’t come on the tour, so I wanted to make it up to you.’ It was for more money than I’d ever seen in my life.
I was able to pay my band bonuses. I was able to pay for my tour buses. I was able to fuel my dreams.”
Swift recalled.
During a recent interview with USA Today, Chesney talked about his upcoming Sun Goes Down Stadium Tour but was also asked about Swift, noting his generosity in her TIME article.
“I texted her and told her thank you for the love, and I was stunned she remembered it.”
Chesney did not think that his check would have a lasting impact on her so many years later, but he did. He noted that he has always admired Swift for the creative she is and knew that she was destined for big things.
“She has such a creative soul, and that’s where all of this started. Everything you see, the stadium shows and big performances, are great. But she is still, I believe, at heart, a songwriter. That is something no one can deny. I saw that early, but I didn’t know it would turn into this.
I told my promoter, ‘This child is going to be something one day.’ But who can look into a crystal ball and know she would help bring the world together?”
Kenny Chesney is a certified Swiftie, it sounds like. He’s got to feel proud knowing that he not only made a lasting mark on her career (which he didn’t think she would recall) but also knew she was going to do something great with her talents.
Kenny Chesney is a class act.
Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour Dates:
Saturday, April 20, 2024 Tampa, Fla. Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, April 27, 2024 Charlotte, N.C. Bank of America Stadium
Saturday, May 4, 2024 Minneapolis, Minn. U.S. Bank Stadium
Saturday, May 11, 2024 Arlington, Texas AT&T Stadium
Saturday, May 18, 2024 Atlanta, Ga. Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Saturday, May 25, 2024 Landover, Md. FedExField
Saturday, June 1, 2024 Pittsburgh, Pa. Acrisure Stadium
Saturday, June 8, 2024 Philadelphia, Pa. Lincoln Financial Field
Saturday, June 15, 2024 Chicago, Ill. Soldier Field
Saturday, June 22, 2024 Milwaukee, Wisc. American Family Field
Saturday, July 6, 2024 Kansas City, Mo. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Saturday, July 13, 2024 Seattle, Wash. Lumen Field
Saturday, July 20, 2024 Los Angeles, Calif. SoFi Stadium
Saturday, July 27, 2024 Denver, Colo. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 Nashville, Tenn. Nissan Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 Detroit, Mich. Ford Field
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 East Rutherford, N.J. MetLife Stadium
Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 Foxborough, Mass. Gillette Stadium
