25-03-2025
Knoxville's Kenny Chesney to be inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Country Music Hall of Fame announced that Kenny Chesney from Knoxville will be part of their Class of 2025.
In addition to Chesney, Tony Brown and June Carter Cash are also being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Country Music Association announced on Tuesday. All three will be formally inducted during a medallion ceremony later this year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's CMA Theater in Nashville.
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A Knoxville native, Chesney released his first record in 1994 and first had a song hit number one in 1997. Since then, he's released a triple Platinum album and won multiple Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year awards. He has performed, and sold out, NFL stadiums in multiple cities. He also sold out the Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. He is famous for his 'voracious' fan base known as 'No Shoes Nation,' according to the Country Music Association.
Chesney spoke during the announcement in which he highlighted other Hall of Fame members from East Tennessee including Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins and Dean Dillon.
'It is a big thrill and a big honor for me to stand up here knowing that I am going into the Hall of Fame with three people from East Tennessee,' he said. 'That means the world to me.'
He explained that he wants to spread love and positive energy with his music.
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'It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was a kid in East Tennessee,' Chesney said. 'If you would have told that kid… that this was going to happen, I would have told you that you were crazy.'
Fellow inductee June Carter Cash also has a Knoxville connection, her family having been regulars on Knoxville's radio show 'Tennessee Barn Dance,' according to the Country Music Association.
The full announcement is available on YouTube.
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