Throwback Thursday: Remember When Kenny Chesney Teared Up On Stage in Indianapolis?

During the final 2009 Sun City Carnival tour stop in Indianapolis, Chesney was so overcome with emotions during his final song of the set that he relied on his fans to finish the song when he couldn’t.

Written by Laura Hostelley
Throwback Thursday: Remember When Kenny Chesney Teared Up On Stage in Indianapolis?
Photo by Sounds Like Nashville

Kenny Chesney holds reign as the King of Summer, not only does he have the hit “Summertime” in his catalogue, but he also puts on unforgettable tours during the warm months entertaining crowds from coast to coast. But just because he stands strong at the top, doesn’t mean the country superstar doesn’t have a soft side.

During the final 2009 Sun City Carnival tour stop in Indianapolis, Chesney was so overcome with emotions during his final song of the set, “Better as a Memory,” that he relied on his fans to finish the song when he couldn’t.

“It’s overwhelming the power of a dream for the dreamer, and also for the people dreaming along,” Chesney said during a video highlighting that special moment. “Because you don’t give up, you keep dreaming when other people see it too. With work, and faith and being willing. Through songs and memories and lives people live with in your songs, pretty remarkable things can happen to pretty remarkable people.”

Chesney was too choked up with tears to finish his final song that night. It was the closing stop and it had already been announced that he would be taking the following summer off from the road. The emotions were running wild, but thankfully his devoted fans stepped up to carry the tune along.

“I never thought we’d play football stadiums filled with people singing along. It’s not something you dare to dream. And then suddenly you’re standing there, and you realize: We have built this, together,” the touring legend continued. “It is the fans as much as it is mine and that became clear in Indianapolis. Knowing it was our final show, realizing that we’ve come so far. And it hit me during ‘Better as a Memory.’ What the fans had helped us build, what the fans carried when I couldn’t, when I couldn’t find the voice, they sang the song for all of us.”

The video above is worth the watch and might give you a little inspiration for your day. We’re reminded just how powerful music can be and begin counting down the days to the next time we get a chance to see the superstar in concert for ourselves.

“I realized just how much it means, how much they care,” he Chesney concluded. “And anyone that tries to tell you that songs or friends or dreams don’t matter, well, I can tell you different in ways that a lot of people can’t.”