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Kenny Chesney Tributes Late Dog With Release Of ‘Da Ruba Girl’: ‘Ruby’s Life Gets To Mean Something’
Kenny Chesney recently said goodbye to his beloved rescue pup, Ruby “Da Ruba Girl,” and now, her spirit will live…
Kenny Chesney; Photo by Erika Goldring_Getty Images for CMT, Da Ruba Girl
Kenny Chesney recently said goodbye to his beloved rescue pup, Ruby “Da Ruba Girl,” and now, her spirit will live on through song.
On Thursday morning, the superstar took to social media with a special video message, revealing that his previously unreleased song, “Da Ruba Girl,” will be released in support of a cause close to his heart.
“Some of you probably know by now if you’ve paid attention to our social media platforms that we lost Da Ruba Girl. Ruby was an unbelievable dog. She meant a whole lot to a whole lot of people and I wrote a song several years ago about our life with Ruby, about my life with Ruby and what she meant to me,” Chesney began.
He then revealed that the song will be released to streaming platforms in less than 24 hours.
“We’ve been playing that song on No Shoes Radio for several years now, my Sirius XM channel and over the years we’ve had a lot of requests that we make that available for people and I’m not sure why I didn’t, but now we are. We are making ‘Da Ruba Girl’ available for download and on all streaming services starting tomorrow [December 9] and I’m very excited about that.”
Chesney detailed how proceeds from the song will impact other dogs like Ruby.
“What I’m more excited about is that Ruby’s life gets to mean something, you know she was a Pitbull, which means she lived with a certain amount of prejudice that came along with that. Ruby’s life is going to pay it forward, if you will, through this song because all the proceeds are gonna go to the Stray Rescue of St. Louis,” he revealed. “I’m very proud of that and I’m very happy that Ruby’s life is gonna get to mean something and mean something for a whole lot of other dogs. She’ll be known all over the world as ‘Da Ruba Girl.’”
Fans can pre-save/pre-add the song now.
The country superstar first revealed the news of Ruby’s passing on social media early Sunday (Dec. 4). At the time, he shared a heartfelt post in memory of his four-legged friend.
“Today we lost Da Ruba Girl. Ruby lived her life never holding anything against anybody. She had an ancient, calming soul. She was honest and authentic, she was a protector, she took a warrior’s path in the journey of her life. Ruby loved the sun and how it felt on her face. She and I had that in common,” Chesney wrote alongside a photo of Da Ruba Girl.
He went on to bid farewell to the pup with an emotional message.
“Today I know Ruby is sitting somewhere with the sun on her face happy and grateful to have slipped her skin and body that was full of cancer. I know she is happy to have had Poncho in her life. They were partners in crime and never spent a day apart. But she is forever grateful that Mary saved her from the shelter. But really they ended up saving each other. I’m going to miss her, especially in the mornings. That’s when she and I really connected. So bye-bye, Ruby. You were a very good girl. We loved you, and thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally. You were one heaven of a dog. “She’ll be known all over the world… as Da Ruba Girl.”
Chesney is also a dog dad to Poncho, a Goldendoodle he adopted in 2012.
Poncho is the “Here And Now” singer’s first dog since childhood. He sometimes pops up on Chesney’s social media accounts and even made a guest appearance in his 2012 “Come Over” music video.
Kenny Chesney is an animal lover and showcased his love for dogs and cats in 2018 when he helped rescue nearly 1,400 animals after Hurricane Irma tore through the U.S. Virgin Islands. His Love For Love City Foundation aided in the response through a partnership with Victory Air and Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
Chesney recently announced that will be returning to the road in 2023 on his I Go Back Tour.
The trek, which kicks off on March 25 in State College, PA, features support from Kelsea Ballerini and will find the eight-time Entertainer of the Year going back to where he started in an effort to honor his fans – No Shoes Nation – in the best way he knows how.
The I Go Back Tour will visit 21 cities across the United States before wrapping up at the Hy-Vee Indy Race on July 22 in Des Moines, IA.
The tour comes after a record-breaking year for Chesney, who played 21 NFL stadiums this past summer.
Kenny Chesney I Go Back Tour Dates
March 25 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
March 30 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
April 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
April 6 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
April 8 – Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
April 12 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC
April 14 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
April 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga*
April 25 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
April 27 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 29 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
May 4 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The Mark
May 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
May 9 – Grand Forks, ND – The Alerus Center
May 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center
May 13 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
May 18 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
May 20 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center
May 25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
May 27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf
July 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hy-Vee Indy Race*
*previously announced
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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