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.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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