This summer, country songs have made a regular showing atop the Billboard charts, with several pop artists leaning into the country space. But for Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation, the 56-year-old singer-songwriter and tireless, vigorous entertainer has been the essential element of making every summer a “country summer” for the better part of three decades.
He’s become a towering purveyor of songs that hit hard, both on the Billboard charts (with Chesney notching an enviable 33 No. 1 Country Airplay hits) and emotionally, with music that exults rowdy tracks that have fueled countless celebratory nights, alongside ballads that capture deep-seated emotions from love to loss, all a result of his relentless pursuit in writing and recording well-crafted songs that endure.
Chesney brought all that musical power to his home state of Tennessee, leading 57,523 fans who packed Nissan Stadium’s stands, floor and sandbar in a rowdy party on Saturday night (Aug. 3) as part of his Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour. The attendance bested Chesney’s previous best attendance at the venue by 300 concertgoers.
As the sun set over Nissan Stadium, the music and Chesney’s legendary party vibes heated up when he descended the steps to center stage, and then proceeded to put his joyous, high-energy, hit-filled reputation as an entertainer on full display — and his loyal, fervent No Shoes Nation was more than up to the challenge. His 2024 show marked his sixth time playing Nissan Stadium, and his overall 200th stadium show.
He opened with “Living in Fast Forward,” and from there prowled the stage with the energy of a prime athlete, in constant motion while staying as close to fans on the edges of the catwalk stage as possible. The East Tennessee native lent his warm, conversational vocal style to relatable small-town odes, island anthems, and arena-sized rockers, delving into songs of nostalgia and escapism. Those included songs such as “Just to Say We Did” and “Take Her Home,” from his latest album, as well as numerous hits that have worn well, like “Somewhere With You,” “Keg in the Closet,” “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” “American Kids,” “Young” (with the screens emblazoned with photos of Chesney as a child and teen) and the all-too-appropriate “Summertime.”
That August night, as summer slowly began its descent, the flow of the music offered a space for renewal through melody, stories and human connection. Joining Chesney in that mission were 14-time Country Airplay chart-toppers Zac Brown Band, ascendant country artist Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker.
Here, we look at five best moments from the evening.
Late in Chesney’s set, he welcomed Moroney back to the stage to join him for “All the Pretty Girls,” which proved a well-loved moment in the show, as Moroney donned a Tennessee Titans jersey and she joined Chesney in throwing shirts to the audience members packing the pit near the stage. They kept the party going with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.”
Uncle Kracker returned to the stage during Chesney’s set for a rendition of their 2004 collaboration “When the Sun Goes Down,” followed by a version of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.” The melodic rock classic also offered Chesney a moment to showcase his sinewy upper range, while the two musicians’ kinship was highlighted, as was the crowd’s overwhelming approval, as the tens of thousands of attendees took over singing the melody, cheering and clapping along.
Georgia native and self-described “emo cowgirl” Megan Moroney released her sophomore album, Am I Okay?, earlier this year and regaled the audience with her top-shelf songcraft, soothing vocals and heartfelt performance. Her set blended newer songs including “Hope You’re Happy,” “Man on the Moon” and her upcoming single to country radio, “Am I Okay?” as well as songs from her debut project including “Lucky,” “Sleep on My Side” and her breakthrough hit “Tennessee Orange.” But with the audience spanning a range of ages, she also wisely included a version of Bryan Adams’ timeless “Summer of ’69.” Wielding her sparkly guitar and a confident saunter, Moroney proved that while her own songs offer heart-on-her-sleeve lyrical constructions and a pop-twang fusion, she can make a classic heartland song all her own, too.
Like Chesney, ZBB has also built up a reputation for sunny, island-tinged songs, and the Nashville crowd was clearly craving some sea and sand, as they danced and twirled to breezy tracks like “Jump Right In,” “Knee Deep” and their new song “Tie Up.” ZBB’s jam band sound, a latticework of tight harmonies, bright horns, razor-sharp fiddles, swooping guitars and rumbling drums forged by years scaling the ranks from clubs to stadiums, is both well-oiled and loose enough to incorporate sounds rolling from elements of country, funk, jazz, blues and rock, weaving in an array of cover songs between their own hits.
The band’s musical dexterity was passionately on display throughout, but notably when they welcomed guitar savant Marcus King to join them for a reeling, guitar-thrashing version of Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” followed later in the set by ZBB’s spot-on, intricate version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which got the packed stadium singing and swaying along.
One of the most powerful moments during the show was Chesney’s 2003 hit “There Goes My Life.” As he launched into the tender ballad about youthful “mistakes” that become life-changing blessings, the crowd instantly lit up with cell phone lights. Two decades later, the ballad still proved one of the concert’s most powerful moments, highlighting the power of a well-crafted song years later.