Sep

2009

Chesney Says “Goodbye” In Indianapolis

(Thanks to a CMIL reader, Lauren, for capturing the tearful goodbye in this photo)

Kenny Chesney‘s highly successful “Sun City Carnival Tour” wrapped up this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Close to 50,000 Chesney fans packed in to the stadium for the final show. The super-star lineup included the Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland, and the “King Of Summer” himself, Kenny Chesney.

We’ve seen the show a few times before this summer. Like always, the show was great, but because this was the final stop of the tour (and because Chesney is taking 2010 off) we were treated to a few surprises.

Some of the highlights of the evening…

-Chesney and his crew pranked Miranda by bringing her a dis-assembled “Bad Boy Buggy” on stage

-Montgomery Gentry ROCKED the house…Best performance of “One In Every Crowd” I’ve ever seen. Everyone was on their feet singing along.

-Sugarland added a fun cover of “Walking On Sunshine” to their set

-A very cheerful Jennifer Nettles joined Kenny on stage while he sang “When The Sun Goes Down”

-Miranda Lambert came back out to help Chesney sing “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”

-Zac Brown joined Chesney for a few songs including Alabama’s “Dixieland Delight,” Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” and Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”

It’s clear that fans will miss Chesney next year. Many fans brought farewell gifts for Kenny. The gifts included personalized license plates, scrapbooks, and banners. Toward the end of the show, Chesney grabbed a banner that read, “Thanks Kenny for giving us a great life” from the audience and hung it on stage.

After a full set and the fun covers, Chesney slowed it down and closed the show with a VERY emotional performance of “Better As A Memory.” Watching him sing the song with tears rolling down his face was tough. You can tell that it was a bittersweet moment for him and his crew. Fans cheered him on as he struggled to get through the songs because his emotions were overcoming him.

After the song Chesney invited the crew out on stage to take a final bow.

Chesney insists that he’s not disappearing next year…”And I hope people understand, I’ve never been an all or nothing kind of guy,” he stated. “This doesn’t mean there will be no shows or no music. It means I’m not going to be staging a major tour – I’m not going to take two weeks off and be meeting with people to build a stage, to start thinking about how we can do the lights different and what the video’s gonna be.” (Via GAC)

Although “Summertime” won’t be the same without him, it seems that the fans completely support Chesney’s decision to take time off.

“It’s hard to believe we’re putting this thing up on blocks,” Kenny said after the sold-out show in Indy. “The response from the fans, out in the crowd and the Internet, it makes [me] feel like people understand, and that they know we’re not gone for good, it’s just a breather.”

As always, we’d like to thank Kenny Chesney and his crew for giving us another summer to remember.

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14 Comments »

Jessica Tarr says

We all love Kenny & Crew & we will ALL be waiting here for you when you get back.

September 22nd, 2009

Heather R says

That picture of him with a tear is very hard to look at. Its such a sad, emotional moment but yet bittersweet and amazing. I’m sure Kenny had every emotion going through him that a human being can have. I’m just very glad to know that he knows his fans support him 1000%, and that we will be here when he decides to return. Its very true that summer is not summer without the ‘king of summer’ himself, but the man very much deserves a break and I’d bet anything that when he returns its gonna be bigger and better than ever!! We love you, Kenny, and of coarse we’re gonna miss you! But we will be anxiously awaiting for your return whenever you may choose!
Thanks for this article, girls!! It brought a tear to my eye.

September 22nd, 2009

Mel says

oh my god lauren.. that picture of Kenny with the tear rolling down his face… i tried to get one too but i was crying too hard!! I started crying at Anything But Mine!! didn’t realize how emotional the night was going to be!

September 22nd, 2009

Olivia says

I had heard from my friends who went, that it was VERY emotional.
One even said that Farmer did make a comment at the Hard Rock the night before that Kenny will be doing some shows but more low key with just the band..

September 22nd, 2009

Pat Green and BNA Records Split; New Releases; Country Hall Looking to Double In Size | The 9513 says

[...] Kenny Chesney wept. [...]

September 22nd, 2009

jean says

Thanks CMIL for a nice review!
Kenny, thanks for a GREAT night in INDY. You are the best!!!
Jean in MO

September 22nd, 2009

Your Name says

I’m glad he is taking a break. I’m so tired of seeing him. It’s about time. Let others get a chance. What a shame…no drunk parties for people next summer.

September 22nd, 2009

lr says

He’s not quitting or retiring. He’ll still be performing a few shows, just not a huge tour. He’s going to be selling his clothing line next and crying all the way to the bank.

September 22nd, 2009

Jenny says

I love Kenny and I fully support the break. I know he’s going to come back with really awesome creativity. Sometimes I wanna run away to the islands when I can’t think creatively enough myself.

September 22nd, 2009

Julie says

It was a sad moment. I could see why he would be emotional. For almost 10 years his life has been on the road and to decide to not have a big tour is a big deal. It is probably weird to not have that. You can tell he loves what he does and he doesn’t want to give it up but he needs a break. I would be emotional too, as would many other people.

September 23rd, 2009

Jenny says

It was so awesome to be there for that show – it was so emotional. I was crying so hard watching him cry. I can’t imagine everything that must have been going through his mind. But he knows we will all be there when he is ready to return. Have a great break, Kenny. We Love You!!

September 23rd, 2009

pamlemoine says

I AM UPSET THAT KENNY CHESNEY IS NOT GOING ON TOUR IN 2010
BUT I UNDERSTAND HE NEEDS A BREAK ISTILL LOVE HIM I WILL WAIT TILL HE COMES BACK

September 24th, 2009

Jamie says

I’ve been to 22 shows over the past 6 years and I gotta say, your review hit it head on.. his tears made me feel more connected to him.. I hope he comes back but if not, I support him 100% and will be here waiting when he decides to come back, if at all. Love you Kenny!

September 28th, 2009

mary headrick says

its hard not see kenny doing what he loves but he will come back to see us all soon and just to say i never have seen kenny in concert but when he comes back i will be there cause that is one dream of mine…kenny just no that i love you as a fan and a friend.hope to see you soon…love your fan and your friend mary headrick.ur tenn.girl..I LOVE YOU KENNY………

June 20th, 2010