Congrats goes out to Kenny Chesney who was recognized for his contribution to country music with receiving the CMA Pinnacle Award–which is given to an artist who has achieved global prominence through their live shows and record sales, as well as someone who has impacted the appreciation of country music for years to come. Yup. Sounds like Kenny.
Kenny Chesney is only the third ever recipient of the Pinnacle Award–it was first given to Garth Brooks in 2005, and then Taylor Swift in 2013. Super Bowl Champion, future Hall Of Fame Quarterback and Kenny Chesney friend Peyton Manning was on hand to present Kenny with the honor.
Kenny Chesney accepts the 2016 CMA Pinnacle Award. (1:36)
“Thank you so much. You know, standing up here in this spot tonight looking out at a lot of friends, and a lot of heroes that have touched my life in so many ways. It took a kid from east Tennessee, your music, and your songs, took a kid from east Tennessee and showed me it was possible. There’s so many people to thank tonight. My manager, my partner, my friend Dale Morris and Clint Higham, thank you very much. To Joe Galante, to Randy Goodman, to Troy Tomlinson, to Holly Gleason, to my band my family my road crew my road family. So many people should be standing up here with me tonight. I want to thank the CMA for such an unbelievable honor. I tell ya though that when I think about what this means to me, to me it means connection with a lot of people that invested a lot of their life in my music and what we do, and to those fans out there that we call no shoes nation I want to thank you for allowing me and my band and my road family to hold your lives in the palm of our hand for a little while and for that I know that there’s a responsibility that comes with that, and that’s a responsibility that we all embrace, and thank you for loving the music. Thanks for giving me an amazing life. Thank you Peyton Manning for being here.”
Peyton Manning presents Kenny Chesney with the 2016 CMA Pinnacle Award. (1:37)
“‘Setting The World On Fire’ isn’t just the title of one of Kenny Chesney’s many smash hits. It’s exactly what Kenny has been doing year after year for more than two decades now, in a winning career that has taken this singer songwriter and touring sensation to the very pinnacle of success. That’s how you become a champion, and that’s how Kenny sold out 156 stadium shows. And he has earned one of the rarest honors in music. The Pinnacle Award was created to recognize those rare artists who have made country music a more powerful global force. Forever impacting in a big and positive way this music we all love. This honor has been presented on twice in CMA history. First to Garth Brooks in 2005 and to Taylor Swift in 2013. Tonight it rightly goes to a performer who by any standard has taken country music to the pinnacle. My friend Kenny Chesney. For all he has done and all he will continue to do for country. I am honored to present the third ever pinnacle award to the one and only Kenny Chesney.”