Cledus T. Judd Reminisces On Wild Walmart Show With Kenny Chesney
Judd recalls a time that rain forced their Walmart parking lot show inside to the lingerie department.
Cledus T. Judd; Photo Courtesy Facebook, Kenny Chesney; Photo by Allister Ann
In honor of Kenny Chesney’s birthday earlier this week, Cledus T. Judd took to social media to reminisce about their early days in the music industry, recalling the time they performed at a Ramada Inn amid an ice storm and their journey touring Walmart parking lots together.
Judd, who is known for his parodies of popular country songs, first reminisced on the time he first met Chesney in the early 1990s.
He First Met Kenny In The Early ’90s
“I think it was 1992 or 93 when the ice storm came through that I always talk about in Nashville. Kenny and I had to do a show for Country Club Enterprises up at the Ramada Inn or something, somewhere up there. And nobody could make it except us. There was no power, no heat, no nothing. But as they say, the show must go on,” Judd explained.
He said he went up and did about 10 minutes worth of comedy and Chesney followed with his early releases “Tin Man” and “Whatever It Takes.”
“Kenny was awesome, man,” Judd recalled.
Walmart Parking Lot Tour Adventures
Later, they were paired up to tour various Walmart stores to promote their latest releases.
“We traveled all over Texas and did Walmarts, and they popped open the stage in the Walmart parking lot. Me and Kenny went out there and did our thing,” he shared.
However, one particular Walmart show in Waco, Texas, stood out to Judd and he said he will “never forget” it.
“We were in Waco, Texas, and in comes a rain, big heavy rain, and we couldn’t perform outside. So we took the show to the inside and Kenny and them set up the band in the lingerie department in Waco, Texas. Yeah, Walmart had a lingerie department in Waco, Texas,” he clarified.
When it was time for Chesney to perform, enthusiastic fans flooded the lingerie department and ultimately showed their appreciation for the then-rising country star by throwing undergarments on to the stage.
“Kenny starts singing and people started throwing big ole panties up there. I remember several 44 double Ds and you name it, hanging from the drum riser right there in the Walmart store and Waco, Texas,” Judd said with a laugh.
They Keep In Touch
He explained that he still keeps in touch with the Tennessee native to this day and went on to highlight the massive career he’s built.
“Kenny’s went on to do great things since then. Probably had a thousand number-ones, playing stadiums. He don’t work about four days a year,” Judd joked. “Now he don’t have to. And I’m still hitting him Walmart every chance I get!”
In all seriousness, however, Judd said Chesney is a “good dude” and pointed out that he “never fails” to respond to his texts.
“You’re talking about a guy that could pick songs, write songs, sing them songs, and figured out a way to bring people to a concert a lot earlier than when the show started… You’re talking about Kenny Chesney.”
Who Is Cledus T. Judd?
Cledus T. Judd rose to fame in the 1990s after releasing several parodies of popular country songs. It all began with a play on Tim McGrraw’s “Indian Outlaw” and led to parodies of songs by Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Joe Diffie, Shania Twain, John Michael Montgomery, Trace Adkins, and many more.
According to his official website, Cledus T. Judd continues to tour and has dates planned throughout the year.
New Kenny Chesney Album And Tour
Meanwhile, Kenny Chesney just released his new album, BORN. The project features 15 new tracks, including his chart-climbing single, “Take Her Home.”
Chesney will launch his much-anticipated Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour on April 20 in Tampa, Florida.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.