Latest news with #Chesney
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Makes 'Surprise Appearance' at Kenny Chesney's Vegas Show
It's official: , 57, has kicked off his summer residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and he enlisted one of his most famous friends to help him do it. When Chesney performed his 2002 hit song "Big Star," the graphics on the Sphere all around him made his fans feel like they were inside of a pinball machine, and that's when the audience was surprised by 's unexpected appearance. She has been laying low these days. Who would have thought she'd be in Vegas? 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 At least, a picture of her was in Vegas. See the moment here: As the pinball makes it to the top of the hill, a photo of Swift and Chesney together in her younger years (definitely Debut era with that curly hair) pops up on the screen, framed by a star. It got fans pretty excited, too — in the video above, you can hear the buzz in the audience as soon as she appears on screen. Chesney and Swift go way back. And in 2024, the singer told USA Today that it's "unbelievable what she has become" after knowing her since her teenage years when she was first trying to break into country music. "She has such a creative soul and that's where all of this started," he said. "Everything you see, the stadium shows and big performances, are great. But she is still, I believe, at heart, a songwriter. That is something no one can deny."Wonder if Swift knows she's part of Chesney's performance? Considering their long history together, it's a sweet way to pay tribute to their friendship. Taylor Swift Makes 'Surprise Appearance' at Kenny Chesney's Vegas Show first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nueces County may join opposition to potential property tax exemptions
Nueces County may join other taxing entities in publicly opposing potential property tax exemptions related to a workforce housing program and a large electric provider — which, if granted, would likely impact property tax revenue collected for the public coffers. Among items on the Nueces County Commissioners Court's May 21 agenda is a closed-door discussion with attorneys on the Corpus Christi Housing Authority's and CPS Energy's 'tax-exempt issue, and all related matters.' The court could take action after that discussion, potentially echoing the objections of Del Mar College and the city of Corpus Christi. The court hadn't received preliminary projections of how much the potential property tax exemptions could affect the budget, but officials are 'doing everything we can as fast as we can to figure out how to put a stop to this,' said Nueces County Commissioner Brent Chesney on May 16, describing the implications as 'far-reaching.' No one wants to take legal action in the matter, he added, but that may be necessary to protect the interest of the county and residents. 'It's just too big a deal; you can't just lay down on it,' Chesney said. 'You have to go fight and figure this out because it's millions of dollars out of taxpayers' pockets.' Both the Corpus Christi City Council and Del Mar College Board of Regents made formal overtures May 13 to potential legal action related to a new workforce housing program spearheaded by the housing authority. The college's board additionally took a position of opposition against possible property tax exemptions related to the purchase of two power plants by CPS Energy, a San Antonio-based utilities provider. As part of a new workforce housing program, the housing authority acquired at least 13 apartment complex properties, according to officials, with others potentially pending acquisition. It amounts to at least $330 million taken off the tax rolls, according to preliminary appraisal values. Appraised values as of mid-May are not yet certified and are subject to change. Acquiring the properties makes them tax-exempt, Corpus Christi Housing Authority CEO Gary Allsup told the Caller-Times on May 14. As part of an agreement between the apartment complex owners and the governmental agency, the participating apartment complexes must make about half of their unit inventory available for workforce housing, he said. It's a mechanism that will fill a crucial gap in housing options for a segment of the population that is 'caught in the middle,' Allsup has said. In the case of housing, 'workforce' means individuals and families whose income is moderate — too high for low-income housing eligibility but not high enough to make market-rate housing affordable. The federal government's definition of what qualifies as affordable is a household spending no more than 30% of its income on utilities, combined with either rent or mortgage. The program, as crafted, is not directed toward low-income housing. The acquisitions, in part, involve the housing authority becoming an owner of the property's grounds, as well as a 'small-portion owner in the actual improvements to the property,' Allsup said. Of the workforce units, 40% are intended for households bringing in 80% or less of the area median income, and 10% are set aside for households earning 60% or less of the area median income, he said. Rent for units reserved for workforce housing are then adjusted to a price that is considered affordable for those income levels, he said. Critics have questioned whether the program meets legal and propriety standards and whether it meets the mission of the housing authority. They have also raised concerns about the impacts on the property tax revenue. Opponents have asserted that property tax exemptions would take off the tax rolls properties appraised in the millions of dollars, subsequently pulling millions of dollars of otherwise expected property tax revenue. Del Mar College officials have estimated that should properties be found tax-exempt, it would mean about $1.1 million in lost property tax value, while city representatives have put that number at about $3.5 million. The city, which had previously cited a projected deficit of about $7 million in its 2026 budget, has said if the housing authority's acquisitions were taken off the tax rolls, the deficit would reach about $10.5 million. May 13, the Del Mar College Board of Regents approved college representatives and legal experts to take the 'necessary and appropriate action, including the engagement of outside counsel, to protect and pursue the college's legal status and potential claims' related to the potential property tax exemptions for the housing authority's acquired apartment complex properties. The City Council took similar action the same day, producing a resolution approving city management to 'to use all administrative, legal, and legislative means to prevent the improper and/or illegal use of property tax exemptions by the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, affiliates, and entities connected thereto.' Allsup said May 14 that 'there continues to be a misunderstanding of what the law is and under what programs that this is done for.' 'There's certainly not anything that's improper, and nothing illegal, in the way that these deals have been done,' he told the Caller-Times. 'It's been very transparent.' Although an official analysis was not immediately available as of May 19, a Caller-Times review of preliminary appraisal district records suggests the amount in lost property tax revenue for the county may be more than $800,000. Chesney told the Caller-Times that the acquisitions and contemplated property tax exemptions would 'damage people everywhere under this disguise of calling it 'low-income housing.'' 'All we're trying to do is stop the bleeding since the issue has been brought to our attention,' Chesney said. With an anticipated parallel effect, the purchase of two power plants — the Barney M. Davis and Nueces Bay generation plants — may take millions of dollars off the tax rolls, officials have said. The two power plants combined are appraised at about $151 million, according to preliminary assessments. Because CPS Energy is considered a governmental entity — it is municipally owned by the city of San Antonio — those two properties, previously on tax rolls, may be accepted as tax-exempt, local officials said. Addressing the Board of Regents May 13, Del Mar College Chief Financial Officer Raul Garcia estimated removal of the plants from the tax rolls would translate to about $500,000 in lost property tax revenue. CPS Energy's 'vision for delivering modern, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services may have been the key factors behind this acquisition,' he said. The board mirrored its action related to property tax exemptions on the housing authority's acquired properties, approving the enlistment of outside legal counsel to look into potential property tax exemptions for CPS Energy's two power plants. In a news release issued May 2024, CPS Energy had announced the closing of the sale of the natural gas power plants, previously owned by Talen Energy Corp. The document shows CPS Energy also closing a sale of a natural gas plant in Laredo. 'This action supports CPS Energy's generation plan, approved in 2023 by its Board of Trustees, to power the greater San Antonio community into the future by securing an additional 1,710 MWs that are available immediately,' the news release states. 'The addition of these units aligns with the generation plan, which includes the retirement of older coal and gas units and the addition of a blend of more efficient gas generation along with solar, wind, and energy storage.' Rudy D. Garza, president and CEO of CPS Energy, is quoted in the news release as saying the acquisitions represent a step in the entity's 'growing role as a regional energy utility, providing additional resiliency and reliability for our customers.' "This acquisition adds critical capacity to our generation portfolio to continue to reliably serve one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation,' he stated. 'Our customers will benefit from these investments for decades to come." In addition to San Antonio, CPS Energy also provides services to 'portions of seven adjoining counties,' according to the news release. Chesney contended that should property tax exemptions be awarded, it would prove to benefit only San Antonio. 'If someone's going to try to take money out of the Nueces County taxpayers' pockets and give it to the city of San Antonio, in the case of CPS, or give it to developers who are developing apartment complexes — that's not right,' he said. In a message to the Caller-Times on May 20, CPS spokeswoman Dana Sotoodeh wrote that 'CPS Energy is a municipally owned utility, owned by the City of San Antonio, and is a tax-exempt entity.' 'When the plants in Corpus Christi were acquired last year, those facilities were no longer subject to property taxes,' she wrote. 'We are collaborative partners with the communities in which we operate. We look forward to continuing our conversations with local leaders and working together productively.' It was not immediately clear as of the morning of May 20 whether city officials intended to take a position on the purchases of the power plants, or if money would be allocated for legal counsel. It was not addressed in the May 13 meeting. Early, non-certified appraisal records indicate the city's portion of taxes, if the plants are found tax-exempt, would be at least $400,000. For the county, the unofficial number would likely be at least $396,000, according to district documents. More: City, Del Mar College say Corpus Christi Housing Authority plan may cost them tax revenue More: Two years after tax dispute budget crisis, Texas law aims to protect local governments More: City of Corpus Christi may need to make $7 million in cuts this year. What will it mean? More: New apartments for the workforce class are coming to two defunct hotels. Here's how. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Nueces County may join opposition to potential property tax exemptions
USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kenny Chesney delivers vibrant, visually arresting feast at Las Vegas Sphere
Kenny Chesney delivers vibrant, visually arresting feast at Las Vegas Sphere Show Caption Hide Caption Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash among Country Hall of Fame inductees Kenny Chesney, Tony Brown and June Carter Cash's family speak after they are named the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. LAS VEGAS – About a third through the second night of Kenny Chesney's groundbreaking residency at the Sphere, the gregarious country superstar dipped into his 2004 hit 'I Go Back.' It's a song steeped in nostalgia, with lyrics that reminisce about wistful moments. High school gyms. Hearing John Mellencamp on the radio. A friend gone too soon. The accompanying video – well, better classified as all-encompassing graphics that sucked you into the visual vortex – of football fields and basketball courts pulled at the hearts of 17,000 people as Chesney sang of days gone by with his typical earnestness. But for all its nodding to the past, the song represented a milestone in Chesney's awards-laden, 30-plus-year career as he performed it May 24. As he looked around in awe of the crowd and the enveloping video, there was as much a sense of 'How did we get here?' as 'Let's look back.' Chesney, 57, is the first country singer – and the first solo artist, despite an ace six-piece band – to play the game-changing venue. His two-hour show, a technicolor wonder, continues for sporadic dates through June 21 and are his only live performances of the year. It's as much a concert as a sonic and visual roller-coaster ride pairing one of the most acclaimed stars of country with the evolving technological wizardry of the Sphere. From the opening deep-sea dive that morphed into a fleet of pirate ships bobbing on the ocean while Chesney bopped through 'Beer in Mexico' – his skinny jeans tight, his sleeveless shirt baring biceps – a carefree vibe permeated the show. Las Vegas Sphere concerts: All the bands that are playing and how to get tickets For years, Chesney has been a reliable stadium filler, a guy who feeds off his fans' adrenaline as he clocks tens of thousands of steps scampering around the stage. While he was slightly limited to roam given the Sphere's structure, Chesney found ways to maintain a lifeline to the front row of fans on the floor as he bent down during 'Keg in the Closet' to smack a palm or accept a Nevada license plate emblazoned 'Sphere.' 'Not only do we see you all, we feel you tonight,' Chesney said in one of his frequent humble acknowledgements of the crowd. Typically, Chesney's concerts offer few embellishments. So to see a Ferris wheel looming over him (' 'Til It's Gone'), a live shot of No Shoes Nation devotees blasted onto the 240-foot-tall backdrop ('No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems') and Chesney on a towering cell phone surrounded by vibrantly colored fish (the prescient 'Welcome to the Fishbowl') elevated the fun quotient. At his opening show May 22, Chesney brought Kelsea Ballerini to the stage. But on this night, Grace Potter, who croons with Chesney on 'You & Tequila,' was the guest of honor to sing that Grammy-nominated hit from 2011. It was a breezy stroll for the pair, but when Potter, whom he introduced as 'one of my best friends in the world,' broke out her signature Flying V guitar, Chesney knew things were about to get rock-y. 'We were in Vegas that last time this happened,' he said, before the familiar sawing guitar notes of Rod Stewart's 'Hot Legs' filled the room (Chesney and Potter covered the song during his 2013 shows at the now-defunct Hard Rock Hotel). It was a playful, if milquetoast version of the song sans Stewart's raspy vocal leering, but also an indication that Chesney plans to shake up the setlist each show and maybe debut more deep cuts. The melancholic 'Seven Days,' from 2010's 'Hemingway's Whiskey' album, made its first live appearance at Chesney's opening Sphere show and he revisited it again for night two, complemented by a foggy lighthouse scene. During 'Big Star,' fans will relish the vintage photos of Chesney posing with music icons including Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn and Taylor Swift while sinking into the sensation of being dropped into a pinball machine. It was also another reminder of Chesney's longevity in an unforgiving industry. As he cranked out the country rock of 'Living in Fast Forward,' which plopped the crowd into the driver's seat on a NASCAR track, Chesney punctuated the lyric, 'I still got some miles to go.' It was an ideal capper to a song that summarizes the focused Chesney. Even three decades into his career, he's hardly slowing down.
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
Kenny Chesney kicks off Las Vegas Sphere residency with surprise guests
Kenny Chesney made country music history Thursday night, becoming the first country artist to headline the Las Vegas Sphere. "Nothing can prepare you for your first night at Sphere in Vegas," Chesney wrote on Instagram after the show, posting a carousel of photos that captured the spectacle and emotion of opening night. "It was so magical and even more emotional for me and my road family," he said. "Thanks to the whole Sphere team and a very special thanks to my friend from Knoxville, TN @KelseaBallerini for such a great surprise on our first night." The 17,600-seat venue, famed for its wraparound LED screen and 4-D immersive effects, delivered a sensory feast as Chesney opened with "Beer in Mexico" beneath animations of sugar skulls and dancing beer bottles. According to an official press release, the performance fused "sonics, visuals, musicians and heart." Surprise guest Kelsea Ballerini appeared during the show, joining Chesney for their duet "Half of My Hometown," a performance of "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," and stepping in on vocals for "You & Tequila," originally recorded with Grace Potter. In a statement released after the show, Chesney described the experience as "overwhelming," noting that "beyond the visuals, which build and move, the fans are so close, even in the 400 section, that you're consumed by all of it when you look up." The setlist featured a mix of fan favorites and songs never performed live before, including "One Lonely Island" and "Seven Days," the press release stated. The production was over a year in development, the press release revealed, incorporating new visual content and animation created in partnership with Sphere Studios to complement Chesney's music. The residency continues through mid-June, with limited tickets still available.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Coronation Street's Gary Windass gets mistaken for Chesney
Appearing on Kevin and Liz Fletcher's Off Script podcast, the 38-year-old said he gets mistaken for Chesney Brown actor Sam Aston. Referring to how Kelvin is still called 'Suggers' from his soap star days in Emmerdale, host Liz was intrigued to know what the public refer to Mikey as. "It's Chesney, it's followed me around all these years. It's funny,' Mikey laughed. "It's an in-joke at jobs" target="_blank">work that my name is Chesney. "I guess people who dip in and out who watched it when Chesney was really young, and then tune in years later and see me, they think that Chesney grew up to be me.' Mikey then went on to reveal how himself and Sam shared a dressing room at the show for 15 years. Most popular soap operas in the UK However, Mikey said he "just goes along with it" when people call him the nickname – and even ask him how Chesney's late dog Schmeichel is. Sam Aston, who played Chesney, first joined the soap in 2003, five years before Mikey. Sam, 31, was crowned the winner of Dancing on Ice earlier this year, alongside his skating partner Molly Lanaghan. Looking towards the future, Mickey said that he'd love to share the screen with Emmerdale rogue Cain Dingle when both soaps take part in a historic crossover episode next year. Recommended reading: 'It's being kept top secret,' he said. 'It'll be people from both soaps mixing together for the first time ever.' 'Gary vs Cain [in the same scene] would be great – a Windass and a Dingle.' Coronation Street currently airs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8 pm on ITV1. Viewers can also stream episodes on ITVX.
