One of the first orders of business at this year’s Country Radio Seminar in Nashville was the Warner Music Nashville luncheon show on Wednesday (Feb. 19).
And after a full showcase of the record label’s stand-out artists, Kenny Chesney — the most seasoned new guy at the label — took the stage to accept the very special award for the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Artist Humanitarian of the Year.
Over the years, Chesney has helped his own Spread the Love Foundation that helped amputee survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing, his Love For Love City Fund to provide disaster relief to the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Drew Brees’ Dream Foundation, MusiCares, St. Jude, Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Living Foundation, the Smoky Mountain fire recovery, Music & Memory for Alzheimers patients, the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive and Farm Aid.
“I got to tell you, I’m really honored. Thank you for having me here today. I’ve got a lot of emotions about standing up here today. I’m very honored to stand up here to receive this, but in ways — I wouldn’t say I’m embarrassed by it — I’m just a little uncomfortable taking recognition for something that a lot of people did. And I feel very fortunate that God has given me a gift to communicate with people through music. And I realized that I have a unique platform to help when it was needed in the Virgin Islands,” Chesney said.
“And it was such a unique period for me and the Songs for the Saints album was something that a lot of you guys know truly came from the heart. And I’ve heard the song ’One Love’ by Bob Marley my whole life. And I’ve always loved what the song said, but when you’re under that kind of stress to see everyone come together for one cause to help change and to help rebuild, I’d heard the song a lot. I’ve never experienced one love in my life, and I got to see it firsthand. It was really beautiful and it was really special. And I can tell you that, like I said, I’m a little uncomfortable getting this because so many people helped.
“And you didn’t have to be someone like myself that had a platform that really helped a lot of people. So many people that didn’t have anything, gave all they have. So I want to recognize those people up here today when I accept this. So many people to thank. My assistant who was a part of the animal rescue, she was such a huge part of that. And it probably wouldn’t have happened without her. And because of her and a lot of people in Tortola and all through the Virgin Islands and New England and a lot of dog rescues and animal rescues in the state of Florida. Because of all those people I think over 3,000 animals that got rescued off both islands.
When he talked about his first album — Songs for the Saints in 2019 — for Warner being a charitable effort, he wasn’t so sure how that concept would go over.
“It was in God’s hands. So I want to thank (John) Esposito and everybody at Warner for accepting me and for understanding that this was something bigger than all of us. And I’m really proud that I made this record.
“And I will say that in 2018 when we did our stadium run, when I saw a lot of your faces out at the show, the one thing that everybody wanted to talk about. And it reminded me that I have been doing this for a little while now, and I feel that a lot of us that have been doing this for a while with me. It kind of feels like family in a lot of ways and when family hurt, somebody in the family hurts, we all hurt. And I felt that from all of you guys. I want to say I really appreciate it. And it gave me so much energy to go out on the road. And we were blessed with a song about hope and love and loving everybody.”
Since 1990, the award has always gone to the country artist who has given time, talent and treasure to causes they believe in. Last year it went to Blake Shelton, and before him it went to Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Clay Walker, Toby Keith, Meal McCoy, Diamond Rio, Brad Paisley, Lonestar, Brooks & Dunn, Collin Raye, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Joe Diffie, Billy Ray Cyrus, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, Roseanne Cask and in its first year, Alabama.
But because this is Nashville, it wasn’t all awards and accolades. There was also music. There’s always music. Chesney performed three of his hits, “Save It for a Rainy Day, “When the Sun Goes Down,” and “Get Along.” He joked that it’s been a while since he’s played shows, so he was backstage looking up the lyrics that the rest of the roomful of industry insiders likely knew by heart. “It’s really great to be part of a format of people who really care ,” he said at the end of his set. “I’m not sure there are other formats that have this kind of thing.”
Before Chesney’s set, six other Warner artists had a chance to play their latest singles:
Chris Janson, on ukulele and harmonica, did “Done.”
Michael Ray played his acoustic best on the heartbreaking “Her World of Mine.”
Gabby Barrett belted her heart out on “I Hope.”
Shy Carter gave the crowd a taste of his “Good Love.”
Ashley McBryde wowed the crowd with her “One Night Standards.”