Kenny Chesney reveals why he asked Taylor Swift to give back his money after cutting her from tour
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Kenny Chesney recently opened up about an early decision he made in his career to cut Taylor Swift from his 2007 Flip Flop Summer Tour.
During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon', the 'American Kids' hitmaker shared details about how the young singer was originally slated to join him on tour but ultimately wasn’t included in the lineup.
Kenny Chesney explains why he had to cut Taylor Swift from his 2007 Flip Flop Summer Tour
Taylor Swift, then only 17 years old, was set to open for Kenny Chesney during the summer tour. However, due to the sponsorship deal with a beer company, Chesney had to make the tough decision to remove her from the bill.
Despite the setback for Swift, Chesney made sure to compensate her for the lost opportunity, as per the Daily Mail.
"I felt terrible because she was gonna lose some money. I wanted to make it up to her," Chesney explained.
He went on to share how he gave Swift "a specific amount of money," adding, "'It was quite a bit of money.... because I wanted to make it up to her, right."
This gesture of generosity was something that Swift later recalled in her 2023 Time Person of the Year interview. Chesney’s decision to compensate the young artist was a testament to his early recognition of Swift's potential, even before her career skyrocketed.
Years later, the two musicians shared a moment of humor during the 2009 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards when they were both nominated for Entertainer of the Year. Chesney jokingly asked Swift for a refund after she won the award.
"I went up to her and gave her a big hug. I said, 'Congratulations, but give me my money back,'" Chesney recalled with a laugh.
Kenny Chesney reflects on Taylor Swift's drive as he announces first-ever Las Vegas residency
Although Kenny Chesney wasn’t taking Taylor Swift on tour that year, he expressed his admiration for her work ethic and songwriting abilities. He knew then that she was destined for greatness, though no one could have predicted how global her success would become.
"I knew that she was very driven. I knew that she was a really good songwriter," the 'Summertime' singer shared, adding that no one was aware at the time "that a person really has the ability to touch the world like Taylor has."
Chesney recently announced a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas starting in May, a move that will mark his first residency in the city.
"I've never done a residency in Vegas. But this is such a unique different thing for me," the hitmaker said.
He explained that the venue will allow for a "shared moment" between him and his audience, although he admitted that he has not yet seen a show at the venue.
"We're already in rehearsals. We're going to be rehearsing. It's a lot to put together," the 56-year-old revealed.
Tickets for the residency will go on sale next week, with the first shows kicking off over Memorial Day weekend.
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