Kenny Chesney Preps For Sun Goes Down Tour Kickoff In Tampa: ‘This Is Where It All Starts To Really Feel Real’
While opening night is currently sold out, additional tickets may be released soon.
Photo Courtesy Kenny Chesney
With just over two weeks until the start of his massive Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour, Kenny Chesney is in rehearsal mode preparing for opening night in Tampa, Florida.
Chesney Says Things Are Starting To “Feel Real”
Lighting cues have been tested, the video has been edited, the band has rehearsed the show, and Chesney says, “This is where it all starts to really feel real.”
“We’ve got the stage and the T taped off. We have room to really play off each other and jam while we’re dialing the songs back in. But even more, all the teams are together, and we’re catching up after so many months off! When you’ve got a road family like I do, it’s a rush just being together,” he explains.
Set List Will Include New Songs, Old Songs, And Some Surprises
Promising fan favorites, a few surprises, and new songs along the way, the eight-time Entertainer of the Year is more than ready for the April 20 tour launch, and it appears fans are just as excited. According to a recent release, opening night in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium is already sold out, and Chesney is already working to add more seats to allow additional room for those hoping to attend the show.
More Tickets To Be Added
“With Tampa a few weeks away, all I could think was: how do we get more people in Raymond James? To me, the whole point of kicking it off is to have absolutely everybody who wants to be there with us, singing the songs and having the time of their life in the stadium. It’s been a couple years, let’s let everyone in on that first night, new tour stadium energy,” he says.
So, he called his promoter to see what kind of magic they could work with the seating chart.
“They’ve never let me down. It’s one of those things where we want to make sure everyone can have a great experience, not just throw tickets up,” he continues. “Having done Tampa so many times, if there’s anyone who can figure out how to make it work, it’s the team who has helped us build it. Hopefully, before the weekend’s over, we’ll have some seats coming online… So if you wanted to be in Tampa, know I want you there, too – and we’re working on it.”
Additional Sold-Out Shows On The Horizon
Apart from the Tampa concert, upcoming performances at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and three shows at Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium have also sold out. As excitement among his loyal fanbase, No Shoes Nation, continues to build, the superstar and his band are equally as ready.
“I know how hungry I am, and the band is, to get out there and hear No Shoes Nation in full, no holds barred voice,” Chesney admits. “And that starts not long after they open the parking lots up, and the sounds of all that tailgating starts wafting into our bus compounds. Sometimes I think they love these shows as much as we do. But knowing how much we love playing these songs to No Shoes Nation, it’s hard to imagine how that’s possible.”
Hot on the heels of the release of his new album, BORN, Chesney will kick things into high gear beginning April 20. This upcoming trek features Uncle Kracker, Megan Moroney, and Zac Brown Band on the stadium dates, and promises to be one of this summer’s hottest tickets.
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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