Kenny Chesney Proves He’s The Entertainer of a Lifetime As He Reunites with No Shoes Nation On Here And Now Tour
The “King of Summer,” Kenny Chesney, has rightfully reclaimed his throne: the stage.
Kenny Chesney; Photo By Allister Ann
After over 1,000 days apart, Kenny Chesney and his dedicated fan base, No Shoes Nation, reunited at the kickoff to his long-awaited Here And Now Tour on Saturday, April 23 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It’s safe to say it’s a reunion that Chesney and the 58,369 fans who packed inside the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will never forget.
Taking the stage promptly at 9 pm, Chesney opened his two-plus hour set with “Beer In Mexico.” Fans greeted the superstar with roaring applause and by the look on Chesney’s face, he missed No Shoes Nation just as much as they missed him. Taking a moment to soak up the energy and love he was feeling from the crowd, Chesney placed his hand over his heart and took a deep breath at the first sight of the packed stadium.
“Good to see you again,” he shared with a smile before launching into the carefree hit.
Never missing a beat, Chesney went on to perform summer anthems like “Reality,” “Til It’s Gone” and “Here And Now,” reminding fans to live in the moment and that’s exactly what they did as they sang along to every single word.
From the floor to the rafters, fans were seen on their feet throughout his electrifying, career-spanning set that included songs like “Summertime,” “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” and “We Do,” the unofficial anthem of No Shoes Nation.
It was as if a greatest hits album came to life on stage as Chesney continued to power through the songs that have become the soundtrack to the lives of his fans. Only slowing it down for a moving performance of “Knowing You” and the beloved “Anything But Mine,” Chesney and his band rocked hard and fast all night long.
The tour production was truly next-level. Giant screens combined with 126 LED light fixtures brought the songs to life and set the mood for each moment of the set, allowing fans to enjoy a fully immersive experience. Sound can sometimes be an issue at stadium shows, but that was not the case here. Chesney and his crew are pros and it shows.
Always allowing the moment to dictate the music, Chesney added the football anthem “Boys Of Fall” to the set list to show his gratitude to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for welcoming him into the stadium and to the players attending the show.
He returned to the stage for a high-octane encore, closing the show with “Don’t Happen Twice” and “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.”
The connection Chesney has with his fans is truly unmatched. There’s a special kind of love that they share and until you witness it yourself, it’s difficult to understand.
There’s no one who puts on a show like Kenny Chesney and while he’s an eight-time Entertainer of the Year on paper, he truly is the Entertainer of a Lifetime. Fans are in for one hell of a summer as the Here And Now Tour is destined to be the hottest ticket of the year.
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.
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