Kenny Chesney Steps In For Morgan Wallen At Two Festivals

Kenny Chesney will be stepping in for Morgan Wallen, who is on vocal rest for the next six weeks, as a headliner at Gulf Coast Jam and Carolina Country Music Fest, which plays June 8-11 in Myrtle Beach. The Gulf Coast Jam happens in Panama City, Florida, on June 1-4.

Chesney's tour was supposed to wrap on May 27. He said, "It's like an extra little bit of something. We love playing those great big stages, and I think everyone knows that. But this year, in these venues, has been unlike anything we've done in years – so much fun, so great, so spur of the moment – and I wouldn't change a thing."

Chesney added in the statement, "I can't lie, though. I was missing those big stages just a bit. And now, me and the road family get to have our cake and eat it, too. When we got the call, even though we were basically done, I thought it over, and of course, we wanted to be there for the fans. They're the reason we do this – and the opportunity to step in and let even more people see how white hot and awesome these players are is awesome. Funny how life has a way of stepping in!"

Wallen posted a video to his fans on Instagram yesterday (5/9) to say that he has been put on vocal rest and cannot sing for six weeks.

He said in part in the video, "I got some bad news from my doctors at the Vanderbilt Voice Center yesterday (5/8), and after taking ten days of vocal rest, I performed three shows last weekend in Florida, and by the third one, I felt terrible. So I went in and got scoped yesterday, and they told me that I had reinjured my vocal cords and that I have full vocal trauma. Their advice is that I go on vocal rest for six weeks, so that's what I'm gonna do. They want me not to talk at all, but they said if I need to, it's okay for something like this."

Morgan added, "They told me that if I do this the right way, I will get back to 100 percent, and they also said that if I don't listen and I keep singing, then I will permanently damage my voice. So for the longevity of my career, this is just the choice I had to make. I hate it, but I love you guys, and I appreciate all the support that you always give me, and I'll see you soon, and I'll be back better than ever. God bless you." Wallen's team is currently in the process of rescheduling his postponed tour dates.

See that post here.

Kenny Chesney is one country star who can fill a stadium in almost every U.S. city. Last week ( 3/23), he kicked off his "I Go Back Tour" with opener and fellow East Tennessee native Kelsea Ballerini.

Kenny commented on the tour on Instagram in part back when he announced it in November, "No Shoes Nation, I'm so excited to finally announce the #IGoBackTour 2023 with special guest Kelsea Ballerini. 'I Go Back' is a song about holding all those things that shaped you very close and keeping them alive any way you can. In 2023, I decided rather than just go repeat what we did on this summer's stadium tour; I wanted to take this band and these songs to a lot of the cities we played on our way up, call it the I Go Back Tour, and do just that."

The remaining tour dates for "I Go Back' are:

MAR 25, 2023 - UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - BRYCE JORDAN CENTER
MAR 30, 2023 - WICHITA, KS - INTRUST BANK ARENA
APR 1, 2023 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - PAYCOM CENTER
APR 6, 2023 - UNCASVILLE, CT - MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
APR 8, 2023 - WILKES-BARRE, PA - MOHEGAN SUN ARENA AT CASEY PLAZA
APR 12, 2023 - BIRMINGHAM, AL - LEGACY ARENA AT THE BJCC
APR 14, 2023 - JACKSONVILLE, FL - DAILY'S PLACE AMPHITHEATER
APR 16, 2023 - FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH, FL - TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL
APR 25, 2023 - LEXINGTON, KY - RUPP ARENA
APR 27, 2023 - GREENVILLE, SC - BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA
APR 29, 2023 - GREENSBORO, NC - GREENSBORO COLISEUM
MAY 4, 2023 - MOLINE, IL - VIBRANT ARENA AT THE MARK
MAY 6, 2023 - GRAND RAPIDS, MI - VAN ANDEL ARENA
MAY 9, 2023 - GRAND FORKS, ND - ALERUS CENTER
MAY 11, 2023 - SIOUX FALLS, SD -DENNY SANFORD PREMIER CENTER
MAY 13, 2023 - LINCOLN, NE - PINNACLE BANK ARENA
MAY 18, 2023 - FORT WAYNE, IN - ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM
MAY 20, 2023 - EVANSVILLE, IN - FORD CENTER
MAY 25, 2023 - CHARLESTON, SC - CREDIT ONE STADIUM
MAY 27, 2023 - ORANGE BEACH, AL - THE WHARF AT ORANGE BEACH
JUL 22, 2023 - NEWTON, IA - HY-VEE INDY RACE

As we celebrate his 55th birthday today (3/26), we take a look at 20 songs that give him the chance to sell out so many shows for so many years now.