Kenny Chesney Explains Why Authenticity Always Comes First During His ‘HEART LIFE MUSIC’ Book Tour
“I feel like people, at the end of the day, are truly suckers for the truth.”
Photo Courtesy Kenny Chesney
In celebration of his first-ever book, HEART LIFE MUSIC, Kenny Chesney kicked off a nationwide book tour, sharing the stories behind the project and the life and career moments that inspired it alongside co-author Holly Gleason. The Nashville stop brought him to the CMA Theater inside the Country Music Hall of Fame, where just weeks earlier, he had stood on that very stage for his official induction into the Hall of Fame.
During the discussion, Chesney reflected on the early days of his career, finding his own artistic voice when he stopped trying to mimic George Strait, and he also shared some of his favorite tour pranks along the way.
The East Tennessee native got candid at one point, recalling the moment he almost walked away from it all and why he felt drawn to record the song “The Life” during that pivotal moment.
“Leading up to 2009, I thought I was going to quit. I mean, I was really scared. My band didn’t know. My crew didn’t know. Nobody knew but me and that internal voice inside of you, he shared, candidly. “And so when I heard ‘The Life,’ I went, ‘Oh my God, that’s how I really feel in a lot of ways.’”
“The Life” tells the story of a man named Jose, whom the narrator meets while vacationing in Playa del Carmen. Jose lives a simple, fulfilling life just fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with his wife. Inspired by Jose’s story, the narrator reflects on his own life and realizes he’s just dying to “live like Jose” instead of constantly chasing the next rung on the corporate ladder. The message resonated deeply with Chesney, who at the time was living his dreams but running hard and constantly on the road.
The superstar, who recorded the song for his Lucky Old Sun album, explained that for him, authenticity is everything.
“I think that authenticity is the thing when you’re creating, especially because I don’t write every song. I really don’t. But finding commonality in people as a songwriter is one of the hardest things. And authenticity, because I feel like people, at the end of the day, are truly suckers for the truth. And that’s something that I’ve learned as an artist over the years and my audience for sure.”
Chesney also explained why he chooses his collaborations carefully and doesn’t record duets just for the sake of it, and it all comes back to authenticity.
“That’s why I don’t do a lot of duets. I mean, I’ve done several over the years, but I get asked a lot to do it. But that leans more into marketing than it does authenticity. A lot of people do duets now because it gives them… maybe a chance to get nominated at an award show. And that’s the only reason they do it,” he said. “Sometimes they don’t even sound good together. It’s just the marketing of it. But for me, that’s never worked.”
He went on to point out that the duets he has done, like with Grace Potter, Willie Nelson, or George Strait, have all been rooted in genuine connection.
“I’ve done more duets with Willie than I have with anybody, which makes me happy,” he declared.
Chesney closed out the final leg of his book tour with a string of appearances in Florida.
“Coming to see us at the stadiums, I totally understand. But you have to really love someone to come listen to them talk! All the laughter, the cheers and those moments of recognizing each other in the stories? It’s been a wild ride and incredible launch,” he shared.
Fans can still pick up a copy of HEART LIFE MUSIC at various retailers.
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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