Kenny Chesney Postpones Initial Dates Of Chillaxification Tour
Country superstar Kenny Chesney has made the decision to postpone the initial dates of his massive 2020 Chillaxification Tour. The…
Kenny Chesney; Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for CMT
Country superstar Kenny Chesney has made the decision to postpone the initial dates of his massive 2020 Chillaxification Tour. The news comes amid the global outbreak of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.
“You can’t take risks without really understanding the consequences,” he explained in a statement. “In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love. I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing.
“So, while we wait to see how this terrible virus is going to impact our country, I think it’s only fair to move these first several dates now. We are figuring some of this out as we go, but I know people buy airline tickets, book hotel rooms – and I wanted to try to give everyone as much time to sort that out as possible.”
Currently, seven stadiums and four amphitheater shows have been postponed. According to a press release, the 2020 Chillaxification Tour dates scheduled from April 18 to May 28 have been postponed. The tour’s promoter is currently working to find alternative dates for the postponed shows. Chesney hopes that new dates will be announced within six weeks.
Fans unable to attend the newly scheduled shows will be refunded.
“This is all uncharted,” acknowledges Chesney. “I’m like everyone else: watching the news, wondering when we may know something concrete, not sure how this gets transmitted, worried someone I know will catch it. I want to believe this will all be okay in the end; but right now, I don’t feel like this risk to No Shoes Nation is worth it.
“Nobody wants to get out there for these shows more than I do. We’ve started rehearsals; everything is loaded in – and the band sounds great. Music is medicine when your soul or your heart need healing, but I don’t want my music to put anyone at risk. So, I promise: we are going to work as quickly as we can to sort out what we can and can’t do in terms of these dates. We’re going to cross our fingers this pandemic will resolve as some of the experts have suggested, and we hope to kick off the tour May 30th at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, a venue we’ve played since 2005. But mostly, I hope this virus is contained, and the suffering and deaths are kept to the fewest possible people.”
Blue Chair Bay Rum Presents Kenny Chesney’s 2020 Chillaxification Tour:
POSTPONED DATES
April 18 AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas
April 25 Miller Park Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2 U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minn.
May 7* iThink Financial Amphitheatre West Palm Beach, Fla.
May 9 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Fla.
May 13* BankPlus Amphitheater Southaven, Miss.
May 14* Brandon Amphitheater Brandon, Miss.
May 16 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Ga.
May 22 Minute Maid Park Houston, Texas
May 23 Alamodome San Antonio, Texas
May 28* Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
More Information as it Develops
* Michael Franti & Spearhead ONLY
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.