Kenny Chesney
Biography
Kenneth Arnold "Kenny" Chesney is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born on March 26, 1968, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was raised in the small town of Luttrell. He is the son of David Chesney, a former elementary school teacher, and Karen Chandler, a hair stylist. Chesney has a younger sister named Jennifer Chandler. He graduated from Gibbs High School in 1986, where he played baseball and football. He received his first guitar, "The Terminor," for Christmas and taught himself how to play. Chesney studied advertising at East Tennessee State University, where he was a member of the ETSU Bluegrass Program and graduated in 1990.
Early Career and Breakthrough
After graduating, Chesney moved to Nashville, performing at various local clubs. In 1992, he signed a songwriting contract with a music publishing company. His debut album, "In My Wildest Dreams," was released in 1994 on the independent Capricorn Records label. After the label's country division closed, he signed with BNA Records. His first album for BNA, "All I Need to Know" (1995), sold well, but it was his 1996 album, "Me and You," that sold over 500,000 copies and brought him wider recognition. His first number one hit on the Billboard country charts was "She's Got It All" from his 1997 album "I Will Stand." The 1999 album "Everywhere We Go" sold over two million copies, solidifying his mainstream success.
Musical Style and Success
Chesney's music is known for blending traditional country with rock, pop, and a "gulf and western" sound that often evokes a tropical, carefree lifestyle. This is evident in albums like "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (2002), "When the Sun Goes Down" (2004), and "Be As You Are" (2005). He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has had more than 30 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He is also renowned for his high-energy concert tours and has been one of the most popular touring acts in country music. In 2025, Chesney was named a member-elect to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Awards and Recognition
Kenny Chesney has received numerous awards throughout his career. He has won the Country Music Association (CMA) Entertainer of the Year award four times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Entertainer of the Year award four consecutive times from 2005 to 2008. In 2005, the ACM honored him with the prestigious Triple-Crown Award. He has also received six Grammy Award nominations. In 2016, Chesney was honored with the Pinnacle Award at the CMA Awards, an award that recognizes an artist who has achieved global prominence.
Personal Life
On May 9, 2005, Chesney married actress Renée Zellweger. The marriage was annulled just four months later. Since 2012, he has been in a relationship with Mary Nolan. Chesney is known for his philanthropy, including his "Love for Love City" foundation, which supported relief efforts in the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma.