Kenny Chesney will receive the 2020 Artist Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB), the organization announced Thursday.
The superstar will be presented with the award on Wednesday, February 19 during the 2nd Annual Warner Music Nashville Kickoff Luncheon, which serves as the official launch of Country Radio Seminar 2020.
Additionally, the eight-time Entertainer of the Year will headline the luncheon where he will be joined by several of his Warner Music Nashville labelmates.
The Artist Humanitarian Award was created by the CRB in 1990 and is presented to artists who “have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career.” Previous recipients of the award include Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels (among others).
Chesney‘s charitable work reaches far and wide, however, many may not be aware of his philanthropic efforts as he often opts to keep it under the radar. His very own Love for Love City Foundation helped rebuild St. John after Hurriances Irma and Maria ripped the island apart in 2017. On top of working with local teams to assist in the cleanup and rebuilding of St. John, Chesney and his team helped rescue over 2,000 animals on St. John and St. Thomas. The animals were brought to no-kill shelters in the U.S. where they found loving families to adopt them.
Taking his commitment to his foundation a step further, Chesney donated all of his proceeds from his latest album, Songs for the Saints, to the Love for Love City Foundation. To date, he’s raised over $1.1 million from the album, which continues to generate funds for the foundation to this day. The Tennessee native also gave back to the children of St. John by donating a bounty of musical instruments to the St. John School for the Arts following the devastating storms.
Chesney’s charitable efforts in St. John is just one example of the many ways he’s given back throughout his career. After the Boston bombing in 2013, the superstar worked with the Boston Medical Center to create the Spread the Love Fund to benefit amputee survivors. He also came to the aid of those affected by the East Tennessee wildfires in 2016 and has been a longtime supporter of ocean habitat conservation.
Throughout his career, he’s worked with various organizations, including MusiCares, the Red Cross, Farm Aid, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ACM Lifting Lives, the CMA Foundation, Kids Wish Network and many local charities.
“It’s as if this CRS award was created for Kenny Chesney,” CRS/CRB Board President, Kurt Johnson shared in a press release. “Artists with his career span are rare. Among them, artists who do as much good as he does, for as long as he has, without calling attention to it, are particularly singular. Here’s to you, Kenny.”
“I was raised to lend a hand where I could, but also to reach out quietly and keep the focus on the people who need the help,” Chesney said. “I’ve always tried to do the right thing where I could, but this award really belongs to all the people I’ve met over the years who are rebuilding their lives, their homes, their world. Watching them come together – the courage, the hours and strength they give to these things – my award is getting to be inspired by what these people have accomplished.”
Country Radio Seminar 2020 is set for Feb. 19-21 at the Omni Nashville.
