ABC/Image Group LAThursday night in New York City, Kenny Chesney picked up his eighth Top Package of the Year prize at the Billboard Touring Awards. His Big Revival tourmates Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Brantley Gilbert, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Miranda Lambert all share in the honor.
Having first won for his Somewhere in the Sun dates in 2005, Kenny says one of his favorite parts of the big arena tours is exposing his fans to new music.
“It’s like turning your friends onto all kinds of bands — like when you’re young and music and sports is all that matters. Beyond people who’ve become headliners like Luke [Bryan], Zac [Brown] and Miranda, the No Shoes Nation got to see people beyond mainstream country, whether it was Grace [Potter], Texas’ Pat Green, [Uncle] Kracker or my buddy Sammy Hagar,” he recalls. “Turning people on to great music is one of the coolest things, and it makes putting these packages together something that’s more than just a formula or who’s hot.”
Ironically, Kenny competed against Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line to take home the prize. Next year, he already has more than a dozen stadium dates mapped out on his Spread the Love tour with Miranda, Sam Hunt and Old Dominion.
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