Chesney Performs Benefit in Small Venue Popular With Students
Singer Kenny Chesney started his career playing in bars and clubs for college students.
After being on tour in large arenas and stadiums, Chesney played in front of about 500 Sunday night at a bar near the University of Tennessee in a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. Tickets sold out quickly even though the show at the New Amsterdam Bar and Grill was not highly publicized.
"We spent so much of the time off the road that we wanted to get the band back together," said Chesney, who is from nearby Luttrell.
"We've been playing so many big places over the last few years that I wanted the band to learn how to love playing music again. I've got friends in the business that get really jaded really quickly. It's important to remember where you come from by playing smaller venues like this."
New men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl visited Chesney in his tour bus before the show.
Chesney was named entertainer of the year at both the Country Music Association Awards in November and the Academy of Country Music Awards in May.