Kenny Chesney will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year. His friends and collaborators from the band Old Dominion are reacting to the news.
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Of course, Chesney can't believe he is being bestowed with the highest honor in country music. He shares the honor this year with June Carter Cash and producer Tony Brown. When the announcement was made back in March, he never dreamt of attaining his level of success.
"The beauty of this music is that, even though it tells some pretty strong truth, country music runs on dreams," said Chesney. "For me, this is beyond a dream. I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up on my couch back at [East Tennessee State University]. But standing here, this is more than real, it's surreal. I couldn't be more thankful or humble."
He added, "I would never have even thought about being here, because it's almost too much. Just walking past so many of these bronzes, realizing how many are friends or whose music I've listened to my whole life, this is an honor that extends beyond anything my heart would dare think."
What Did Old Dominion Have To Say About Kenny Chesney's Honor?
In an interview with Billboard, Matthew Ramsey shared his insights on Chesney's induction:
"He definitely is deserving of that, for sure. The guy has successfully reinvented himself and successfully chosen songs and written songs that have touched the fabric of people's lives in this country and this world."
Ramsey knows Chesney's dedication firsthand. He and Brad Tursi wrote "Save It for a Rainy Day," a Chesney hit in 2015. Old Dominion and Chesney also worked on "Beer With My Friends" and toured together.
Ramsey Had More to Say About Chesney
Despite the laid-back persona that Chesney projects to his fans, Ramsey says the singer remains earnest in his work.
"I think you see how seriously he still takes it, his career and what message he wants to put out there," Ramsey said. "It's inspiring, and it definitely sets a certain standard to how you care for your career. He's also one of those artists that it's not just the music — you have people like Jimmy Buffett, these artists that create a complete environment. When you show up to that show, you're transported to a different place. You don't sell out football stadiums unless you do that, and he's done that to a degree that not many artists have done."
Photo by Getty / Gilbert Flores
