Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23
Kenny Chesney Blasts Last-Minute Concert Cancellations, Citing 2008 Injury He Played Through
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

Kenny Chesney Blasts Last-Minute Concert Cancellations, Citing 2008 Injury He Played Through

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 23

Summary

  • On Bill Maher’s podcast, Kenny Chesney said artists who cancel after fans have already arrived betray people who rearranged schedules, hired babysitters and paid to see a show.
  • Chesney tied that view to a work ethic built in clubs, bars and casinos, saying performers should show up because “it’s show business,” not because they feel like it.
  • A 2008 stage accident at Williams-Brice Stadium underscored his point: Chesney finished the concert after his right foot was trapped in a hidden elevator and needed treatment afterward.
  • Maher, who said he has never missed a show in more than 40 years on the road, agreed that some newer performers cite being “not mentally fit” or simply “not feeling it.”
  • Chesney said that mindset reflects a broader shift in entertainment, where some newcomers ask how to “make it” instead of focusing first on the craft itself.

Insights

Is the ‘show must go on’ ethic a sign of grit, or a dangerous relic harming today's artists?
Is the modern concert touring model itself financially and mentally unsustainable for performers?