Singers sometimes scrap their shows with little advance notice. The reason might be illness, bad weather, or a family emergency. They probably don't do that capriciously or without careful thought. Often, artists express sincere regret for having to be absent. Nevertheless, fans are left in the lurch anyway. They may have shelled out big bucks just to get there and rearranged their schedules. Plus there is the intense disappointment they experience. Some people look forward to seeing their idol in stage for months beforehand. If the concert is abruptly called off just before the curtain goes up, that is crushing. One of the biggest names in country music, Kenny Chesney, is blasting that practice.
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He has a very sturdy work ethic and a keen sense of responsibility to the loyal folks in No Shoes Nation. That is part of what made Chesney the beloved and widely-respected performer that he is.
Chesney Talked to Bill Maher About This Topic
Kenny Chesney was recently on the Club Random podcast with Bill Maher. The two discussed performers who cancel their shows right before they were slated to begin. It was very clear that the "Summertime" singer, 58, frowns on the practice. For Chesney, according to the old adage, the show must go on.
First, Bill Maher robustly shredded people who scrap their concerts at the last moment. "The way they cancel shows because it doesn't even have to be something physical. It's just, 'I'm not feeling it. So all you people who came out here and rearranged your life and your dates and your weeks and your babysitter to come see me, I'm sorry. I got that sinus headache.'"
Then Kenny Chesney jumped in. "I know people that canceled shows before they went on that people were already there, and they just said, 'I'm not going on.' And then now the thing is... is they're not mentally fit."
"There's a Certain Gratitude"
Chesney opened up about how he came by his work ethic. It was honed by effort, applying himself whole-heartedly, and being highly appreciative.
He shared, "There's a certain thing, like I think that — and how I came up and all the clubs and the casinos and whatever it is, I played and then getting to the next level. There's a certain gratitude, and I think it was the way I was brought up also, but you just didn't cancel. I mean, it's show business."
That means powering through pain if necessary. And always putting the paying public first.
