Kenny Chesney Holds Listening Event For New Album

(L-R:) Producer Buddy Cannon, Chesney, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO)

Kenny Chesney and Blue Chair/Columbia Records offered media a private listening preview of Chesney’s upcoming album Life on a Rock this week (Apr. 2) at The High Watt on Cannery Row in downtown Nashville. Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman and CEO Gary Overton welcomed guests to the special event and Sony/ATV Music Publishing head Troy Tomlinson shared with the media his enjoyment of watching Chesney’s career grow into such a success.

Large replicas of the album packaging donned the walls of the venue while attendees listened to the first tune “When I See This Bar” written by Chesney and Keith Gattis. Describing the song, Chesney said it was about how life goes by so fast and how going back to certain places can bring back those friendships and memories you’ve made along the way. He continued to share intimate stories of each song as they were played, calling the album “incredibly autobiographical, incredibly personal.”

Chesney added these songs are “simple reflections of my life” which are centered around his experiences spending time at his home in the Virgin Islands. “Lindy” and “Happy on the Hey Now (A Song for Kristi)” are poignant recollections of individuals that made significant impressions on Chesney. “There Must Be Something I Missed” written with Mac McAnally originated from a conversation between the two when Chesney admitted, “I’ve got to find a way not to just exist in my life but to live it.” The title track “Life on a Rock” reflects the lifestyle and closeness of friends on the Virgin Isles while “Marley” written by Chesney and Tom Douglas centers around escaping from it all to a place of solitude and silence.

Chesney summarized how honest and authentic this album is and how “it grounded me in ways I didn’t see coming.” The project features appearances from Willie Nelson on “Coconut Tree” and the Wailers Band on “Spread The Love.” Produced by Buddy Cannon, Life on a Rock is slated for an April 30 release.