Kenny Chesney photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
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In the midst of a depressin’ recession, it’s a huge gamble to put on a stadium concert, and very few acts are willing to roll the dice on the up-front expenses for that kind of a gig. Of those that do, it seems nearly all of them were country acts in 2009 — and usually that act was Kenny Chesney.
Kenny played a dozen stadiums during his Sun City Carnival Tour, joined for most of the schedule by Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Kenny created a party atmosphere, often bringing up hometown athletes — including members of the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots, for example — to connect with the city. By the time Sun City ground to a halt in Indianapolis in September, the Zac Brown Band had replaced Lady A and Kenny had topped every other act in any genre as the top touring artist, according to USA Today.
Even though he’s backing off from a formal tour next year, Kenny’s already got a major stadium date on his itinerary for 2010. He’s playing Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird’s Nest, during a Show Of Peace Concert April 17, according to UPI. Also on the bill that day: Coldplay, Jimmy Page, Beyonce, Prince and Justin Timberlake.
In country’s other stadium news:
- George Strait headlined the very first event at the new Cowboys Stadium, the Arlington home for Dallas’ NFL team. When Julianne Hough came down with strep throat, Texas native Lee Ann Womack replaced her as the first person in the lineup and had the honor of becoming the inaugural artist to perform at the venue. Also on the bill that day were Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire.
- Rascal Flatts delivered a pair of sold-out stadium shows. The group appeared at Wrigley Field in Chicago with Darius Rucker and Vince Gill, then sold all 65,000 tickets for a date at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, the hometown of Flatts founders Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus.
- Willie Nelson was the opening act for the Dave Matthews Band during a two-night stand at Boston’s fabled Fenway Park in May.
- As is custom, the Country Music Association showcased many of the genre’s top acts over four straight nights at Nashville’s LP Field in June. Though hampered by an opening-night rain, the concerts still yielded an ABC-TV special, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock,” featuring Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, Dierks Bentley and the Judds.
- Taylor Swift has already sold out a June concert at the Patriots’ Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. She’s joined at that show by Kellie Pickler, Gloriana and teen pop singer Justin Bieber.
Did you take in one of country’s big tour stops/events in 2009? Drop me a comment below and tell me about your favorite concert of the year!
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