Kenny Chesney Awarded as Humanitarian of the Year by Country Radio

Superstar recognized for recovery efforts following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Written by Chris Parton
Kenny Chesney Awarded as Humanitarian of the Year by Country Radio
Kenny Chesney; Photo Credit: Kayla Schoen for CRS

Already the owner of countless trophies celebrating the achievements of a nearly three-decade career, Kenny Chesney was honored with a different kind of award at this year’s Country Radio Seminar — as the Humanitarian of the Year.

Given to the superstar for his tireless drive to give back — including most notably through disaster relief for the Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria — Chesney accepted the honor during the yearly industry convention’s opening luncheon, addressing the crowd of radio professionals with selfless gratitude.

“I have to tell you, I have a lot of emotions standing up here,” Chesney said during his remarks, according to official statements. “I am embarrassed and uncomfortable, but God has given me the gift of communicating with people through music … and that’s given me a unique platform to help, especially with the Virgin Islands, with Songs for the Saints, which was written in the moment and came from the heart.”

Chesney’s 2018 album, Songs for the Saints, was written in the wake of back-to-back storms which ravaged his island-paradise home, and the singer has pledged to donate all proceeds from the project to recovery efforts through his Love for Love City charity foundation.

“You know, I’d heard ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley my whole life, but when you’re under that kind of stress, to see everyone coming together to rebuild and help? I got to see what that song was in action,” Chesney went on. “What was really amazing were so many people who didn’t really have anything, and the way they gave. You didn’t have to be a musician, like me, or a politician, like Mike Bloomberg, to make a difference, and the people did.”

Chesney is currently finishing up his next studio album, and plans to release a new single titled “Here and Now” on Friday (Feb. 21). His headlining Chillaxification Tour with Florida Georgia Line and Old Dominion starts April 18 in Arlington, Texas, and the Country Radio Seminar continues in Nashville through Friday.