Remember When Kenny Chesney’s ‘How Forever Feels’ Went No.1?

On this day in 1998, Kenny Chesney ruled the country radio charts with his hit song, “How Forever Feels.”

When he first heard the track, penned by Wendell Mobley and Tony Mullins, it immediately caught his attention because “it’s the only love song I know of that has both Jimmy Buffett and Richard Petty in it.”

The track served as the lead single from his sixth studio album, Everywhere We Go, which went on to become his first double-platinum certified album.

The upbeat tune is a fan favorite and tells the story of a young man who has lived a great life, but eventually comes to the realization that he has not found a love to spend the rest of his days with.

“Well, I’ve been around the block a time or two/ Done almost everything a boy can do/ I’ve done some livin’, yeah I’ve had fun/ But there is one thing that I haven’t done,” he sings, referring to the fact that he has yet to get married. 

Something that many fans don’t know is that the chart-topping hit almost didn’t land in Chesney’s hands. Tim McGraw originally recorded “How Forever Feels” but ultimately decided against releasing it. Chesney, who has always been good friends with McGraw, almost didn’t put out the song in respect of him and his version of it.

While McGraw did miss out on cutting a U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks No. 1 song, he later told Kenny, “I’m glad you cut it. It just didn’t work for me.”

Nearly twenty years later, Tim released his own version of the song the 2016 album, McGraw: The Ultimate Collection.

“How Forever Feels” remains a staple in Chesney’s discography and live setlist.