Kenny Chesney Goes Back To His Roots With ‘Knowing You’ Performance At 2021 ACM Awards

Kenny Chesney performed his latest single “Knowing You” during the 56th ACM Awards on Sunday, April 18.

Ahead of Chesney’s performance, the country superstar explained that the song is about losing a person that was close to you and choosing to look back at the relationship with gratitude rather than sadness. “‘Knowing You’ is about a lot of people that’s come and gone in my life, that are still in my life,” Chesney explained. “It’s a song about forgiveness, it’s a song about gratitude and being happy that someone was in your life in the first place. It’s honestly just about the fact that it was a moment in your life and you’re glad that it happened.”

Chesney also performed “Half Of My Hometown” for the first-time ever alongside Kelsea Ballerini during the show.

The 56th ACM Awards also featured performances from Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Alan Jackson, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Gabby Barrett, Jimmie Allen, Little Big Town and more.

Additionally, the show included star-studded collaborations by Dierks Bentley feat. The War And Treaty, Miranda Lambert with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Chris Young feat. Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Lee Brice, as well as Carrie Underwood & CeCe Winans. The show opener featured the live debut of Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s duet, “Drunk (And I Don’t Want To Go Home).”

Co-hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, the 2021 ACM Awards took place in Music City for the second consecutive year. The three-hour awards show took place at three iconic Nashville venues, including Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. The awards show aired on Sunday, April 18 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET) on CBS Television Network and were also streamed live on CBS All Access.