WATCH: Kenny Chesney Welcomes His Mom To The Stage For Heartfelt Performance With Kelsea Ballerini
“That’s half of my hometown right there,” Chesney sweetly shared.
Kenny Chesney, Kelsea Ballerini, Karen Chandler; Photo Courtesy Kenny Chesney, Instagram
Kenny Chesney shared a “special moment” with his mom, Karen Chandler, and tour mate, Kelsea Ballerini, on Thursday evening (April 27).
The memorable moment came during’s Chesney’s I Go Back Tour stop at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina when Chesney and Ballerini took to the stage to sing their chart-topping duet, “Half Of My Hometown.”
Rather than sing the song together, as they do each and every night on the tour, the pair invited Chesney’s mom to the stage to join them for the performance.
Joined By Chesney’s Mom
According to clips posted to social media from the show, Karen Chandler was welcomed to the stage by fans with roaring applause.
Kenny Chesney and Kelsea Ballerini joined hands with Chandler as they swayed along and belted out the lyrics to the hometown anthem.
“That’s half of my hometown right there,” Chesney proudly shared after the first chorus of the tune, pointing at his mom and Ballerini.
Watch
@lindsey_d_evans This was fhe sweetest thing we have ever seen! The best show in SC tonight!!! @kennychesney @kelseaballerini #igobacktour #kelsea #kelseaballerini #penthouse #blindsided #southcarolina ♬ original sound – Lindsey_d_evans
Chesney’s Greenville, South Carolina concert was attended by several other special guests, including Lincoln Riley, the head coach of the USC Trojans, and Dabo Swinney, who is the head coach at Clemson University. During the show, Chesney dedicated his performance of “Boys Of Fall” to Riley and Swinney.
Following his show in South Carolina, Chesney took to social media to share photos of the memorable moment.
“A moment with mom last night in Greenville, South Carolina. Mom came on stage last night to sing with me and Kelsea Ballerini. Such a special moment,” Chesney wrote. ”Also, big thanks to Dabo Swinney and Lincoln Riley for coming to the show. ‘Boys of Fall’ felt good in your honor.”
She Previously Joined Him On Stage In Denver
This isn’t the first time Chesney’s mom joined him on stage. In July of 2022, she appeared alongside her superstar son during his concert at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on the Here And Now Tour.
At the time, the country superstar sweetly wrapped his arm around his mother while he performed “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” a duet that originally features Chesney alongside David Lee Murphy and appears on Murphy’s 2018 album, No Zip Code.
Kenny Chesney remains close with his mother and previously opened up to his record label about lessons he learned from his mom.
@kristinaulmerberger #kennychesneymusic #denvercolorado ♬ original sound – Kristina Ulmer Berge
“I think one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from my mom is just, no matter what life throws at you, is just to take a step back and a deep breath and just still take life as it comes,” Chesney said. “She’s been through a lot in her life. And she’s handled it…. she’s come to it, I believe, with a lot of grace and a lot of style. And I’ve learned a lot from that. She has taught me a lot directly and indirectly. And she’s a hard worker, but she loves life. And I thank God that I got my love of life from her.”
Karen Chandler previously attended red carpet events with Chesney, including the 2010 premiere of his live concert DVD, Kenny Chesney’s Summer in 3D, among several others.
I Go Back Tour
Kenny Chesney is in the midst of his I Go Back Tour, which kicked off on March 23 in Charlottesville, Virginia and continues through May 27. The trek features support from Kelsea Ballerini.
Presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum, the I Go Back Tour finds Chesney returning to his roots as he visits arenas and cities that he played on his rise to superstardom.
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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