Kenny Chesney may be one heck of a songwriter, but one of his personal favorites is Mac McAnally, who he considers among the best out there. Mac wrote Kenny’s smash, “Back Where I Come From” — and Kenny still thinks Mac’s version is the best — and Mac not only wrote but also duets on Kenny’s new single, “Down the Road.” “He’s as real as this song is,” Kenny says, “I don’t know of any songwriter in this town that doesn’t want to write something this simple, but say so much.” And even beyond the songwriting, Kenny just loves Mac’s vocals. “I listen to his music all the time…and I’m awfully honored that he did this song with me.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• You’ll find “Down the Road,” as well as Kenny’s recent number-one smash, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” on his new album, Lucky Old Sun.
• Congratulations, Kenny! He was just named the CMA Entertainer of the Year for the third consecutive year…it’s his fourth CMA Entertainer win overall!

  Kenny Chesney talks about Mac McAnally, who sings with him — and also wrote — his new single, “Down the Road.” (:39)
“You know, I wrote more songs on this record and it’s more of a, I don’t know, I don’t want to say it’s a singer/songwriter record, but it kind of is. And Mac McAnally is — my opinion — is one of the best, and he’s one of my favorite singer/songwriters. And he’s as real as this song is, and I don’t know of any songwriter in this town that doesn’t want to write something this simple, but say so much, and the fact that Mac did it with me was just icing on the cake. I mean, his voice is, you know, I listen to his music all the time, you know? I still think his version of ‘Back Where I Come From’ is the best, and I’m awfully honored that he did this song with me.”