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照片: Catherine Powell, Catherine Powell/Getty
肯尼·切斯尼 is going back to his roots.
Shortly after his massive Here and Now 2022 Tour wrapped in August, the country superstar announced on Monday that he’s embarking on the I Go Back Tour with opening act 凯尔西·巴莱里尼 明年, which will see Chesney hit cities outside of major markets — and many that he hasn’t played since his rise to fame.
Launching March 25 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, 宾夕法尼亚州, the I Go Back Tour will feature shows in North American locations including Lexington, 肯塔基州, 大急流城, 密歇根州, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma before wrapping July 22 at the Hy-Vee Indy Race in Des Moines, Iowa — with more dates set to be added.
Chesney, 54, opened up about the tour’s inspiration in a press release, telling fans that he was thinking about how to “recapture the magic” after concluding the Here and Now Tour.
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伊森米勒/盖蒂图片社
“I still have the sounds of diesel engines and No Shoes Nation in my head — and that made me ask, ‘What else could I do? What would be something that would put me every bit as much 在 the music and give No Shoes Nation another reason to believe?'” he stated, noting that he wants to play for fans “who might not come to stadium shows, who live a little off the obvious path, but who love this music every bit as much…”
The thought led the 12-time CMA Award-winner to think about his 2004 hit single “I Go Back,” written about how music can remind you of important life moments.
“That song is about holding all those things that shaped you very close, recognizing how special they are – and keeping them alive any way you can,” 他继续. “所以, I decided that rather than just go repeat what we did, I wanted to take this band and these songs to a lot of the cities we played on our way up! Let’s call the tour I Go Back – and do just that.”
Elsewhere in the press release, Chesney recalled playing some of the cities during the early years of his career, noting the “craziness” of the shows in “markets where people were using chain-cutters to get onto the lawn because we were so sold out in the Carolinas.”
“That’s a kind of energy that should never be left behind. For all those fans — based on how good last year felt — I want to bring what was coming off that stage to you, where you are, so we can all have 那 kind of experience together!” added Chesney.
Fans can expect to see the musician perform songs from his catalog that “time stamp people’s lives” 和 “serve as the touchstone for memories in the making.”
He said in the statement, “For people to come out and either live these songs again, or hear them for the first time? Who knows what will happen? But I know whether it’s ‘American Kids,’ ‘Get Along’ or ‘You And Tequila,’ every single person knows 确切地 what we’re singing about and singing along to together.”
In another press release, Chesney spoke about choosing Ballerini, 29, as the tour’s opening act following their 2020 duet “Half of My Hometown.”
“Kelsea understands everything about where I come from, because she’s from there, 也,” 音乐家说, referencing the fact that both he and Ballerini grew up in Knoxville, 田纳西州.
“She knows how hard it is to leave, how much you miss all those things that make you who you are… but also how the only way to chase the kind of dream she has is to do just that. It’s a tough call when you love home the way we both do, but for kids like us, there was never really a choice,” added Chesney.
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Jason Davis/WireImage
He then recalled the origin of “我家乡的一半,” noting that Ballerini texted him to record the duet: “As soon as I heard that first verse, I was in. And I have been one of Kelsea’s biggest fans ever since. She’s a writer, a girl who sings from her heart and isn’t afraid to honor where she comes from. 对我来说, there was no other choice for this tour.”
Ballerini also spoke about collaborating with Chesney on both the song and tour in the press release, acknowledging their hometown connection.
“Music has taken me so many incredible places,” 她说, noting that she’s collaborated across genres. “But singing with Kenny is going home. He was the only voice I heard on ‘half of my hometown,’ and when he comes in, it’s just like hitting the Knoxville city limits. So to be able to go out to those cities like the place he and I grew up with an artist who’s accomplished what he has, it’s a lot like going home.”
Tickets for the I Go Back Tour go on presale for American Express card members in select markets from Nov. 23 在 10 是. local time through Dec. 1 在 10 下午. 当地时间. The general public gains access to tickets the following day at 10 是. 当地时间.
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See the full list of dates for Chesney’s I Go Back Tour below.
行进 25 – State College, 公共广播 – Bryce Jordan Center
行进 30 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
四月 1 – Oklahoma City, 行 – Paycom Center
四月 6 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
四月 8 – Wilkes-Barre Township, 公共广播 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
四月 12 – 伯明翰, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC
四月 14 – Jacksonville, 佛罗里达州 – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
四月 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, 佛罗里达州 – Tortuga
四月 25 – Lexington, 肯塔基州 – Rupp Arena
四月 27 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
四月 29 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
可能 4 – Moline, 伊利诺伊州 – Vibrant Arena at The Mark
可能 6 – 大急流城, 心肌梗死 – Van Andel Arena
可能 9 – Grand Forks, ND – The Alerus Center
可能 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center
可能 13 – 林肯, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
可能 18 – Fort Wayne, 在 – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
可能 20 – Evansville, 在 – Ford Center
可能 25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
可能 27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf
七月 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hy-Vee Indy Race