Kenny Chesneyis still holding out onTaylor Swift’s IOU.
During an appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the country star recalled having to remove her from his tour and raved about how much she’s grown as an artist.
“I had to call Taylor personally and tell her she couldn’t go on tour with me, which now seems absurd, right?” he remembered on the show Thursday. However, Chesney felt awful about telling Swift she couldn’t join him “because she was going to lose some money.”
Cindy Ord/Getty; John Salangsang/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty
To make up for the loss, the country singer gave her a “specific amount of money.” Later that same year, Chesney and Swift were both nominated forCMA entertainer of the year. “Well, she won,” Chesney continued.
“So backstage I went up to her and gave her a big hug. I said, ‘Congratulations but give me my money back,'” he joked.
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In the2023TIMEPerson of the Year cover story,Swift alluded to Chesney’s generosity. The 14-time Grammy winner recalled the note Chesney sent her with the news that left her mother “weeping.”
“I’m sorry that you couldn’t come on the tour, so I wanted to make it up to you,” the note read, which included a check. With the note was a check. “It was for more money than I’d ever seen in my life,” Swift said, as perTIME.
“I was able to pay my band bonuses. I was able to pay for my tour buses. I was able to fuel my dreams.”
Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney in Nashville in September 2011.Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
After the “You and Tequila” singer read it, he was “stunned” that Swift remembered what happened. “To see what she did with that and the person she is now and the artist she is now and the creator that she is now — it is unbelievable what she has become,” he toldUSA Today.
Chesney added that he knew Swift had “something” when he first met her. “I knew that she was very driven. I knew that she was a really good songwriter,” he said while onJimmy Fallon’s show.
“Nobody knows that a person has the ability to really touch the world like Taylor has,” he added.
Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift in Nashville in March 2015.Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Kenny Chesney
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Kenny Chesney
Swift wrapped up her record-breaking, continent-spanningEras Tourthis past December.
Meanwhile, Chesney justannounced a limited residency at the Spherein Las Vegas, kicking off in May. “To me, this is going to be a whole new way of rocking the fans, and I can’t wait,” he said of his upcoming performances.
source: people.com