Kenny Chesney Tapes Austin City Limits

Written by SLN Staff Writer May 14, 2009

As we told you a couple of weeks ago, Kenny Chesney is set to appear on an episode of the PBS series Austin City Limits this fall. Chesney taped the famed TV-show in Austin, TX earlier this week, and in addition to such Chesney classics as “I Go Back,” “Summertime,” and “Beer In Mexico,” Kenny also performed a couple of songs that he doesn’t usually get to do. “Boats” and “Somewhere In The Sun” were added to the set list to give the fans a special treat. “Those aren’t songs I normally get to do,” Chesney admitted. “I like to keep the energy level pretty high, but they’re very much a part of who I am… and it’s funny. ‘Somewhere In The Sun’ is one of only two songs I’ve ever written on the road, and I wrote it not a mile from where we were taping. So in a way, we closed the circle singing it here… because it all started when we were snowed out of our show down here one year.”

Adding more flavor to the evening was Mac McAnally, who joined Kenny on “Back Where I Come From” and “Down The Road” – two Chesney staples that Mac has written. “Any time you can put the focus on the songs, it’s a good thing,” Chesney said. “And to be able to do that with Mac… well, it just takes these songs to a whole other level. I was honored that he’d do this with us, and I hope we’ll get to see him out on the road when he can get away from his own stuff.”

Chesney is back on the road this weekend on his “Sun City Carnival” tour, and Austin City Limits was a great addition to his schedule. Kenny says “We’re having a big summer, and we’re just getting started. And ‘Austin City Limits” will take us into the fall in a way that I’m really proud of.”