We now know the title and release date of Kenny Chesney’s new album. The country music superstar announces on social media that BORN will be out on March 29.
The record will mark Chesney’s first since Here and Now was released in 2020.
Born. The New Album. March 29. pic.twitter.com/lMa2RerpvY
— Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) January 17, 2024
“Normally, we wait until it’s all figured out, the T’s are crossed, the I’s are dotted,” Chesney says in a press release, speaking about BORN. “But everything about this record’s been different – from how much time we’ve spent, the different ways we recorded and wrote and found songs – so why not let the fans know as we’re finishing up? We make this music for them, so, here you go. It’s official: BORN, March 29 – and you’ve seen the cover. Now to the final line-up, and maybe getting a couple more out there.”
Chesney already released “Take Her Home” from the record, which is currently in the Top 30. The song is one of several the Tennessee native is eager to share with his loyal fans. But with BORN, perhaps more than any of the others, Chesney wanted to make sure all of the tracks belonged on the project.
“You never want to think it’s all about you, or that in this crazy world, it’s all about your music,” Chesney reflects. “I’m just trying to find songs that continue the story of who we are…how we live, breathe, work, rock, kick back and sometimes get tangled up in feelings that are anything but simple. Then you see people react the way they have to the news, and you go, ‘Well, okay…’”
Perhaps surprisingly, one of the easiest decisions for Chesney was the album cover, shot by his good friend and famed photographer, Allister Ann.
“I’d already decided on the cover because it was something clean and simple and true. It’s the kind of picture that says everything, but leaves plenty of room for everything else,” Chesney explains. “My friend Allister shot it, and it’s just me looking straight into No Shoes Nation. When I saw it, it was really the only choice for this record.”
Chesney hasn’t released the rest of the songs on BORN, but he does say the title is from one of the tracks on the record.
“As for the title, well, we’re still not quite done deciding what’s going on here, but one thing’s for sure: ‘Born’ is absolutely the title track,” Chesney says. “It’s got a lot of heart, a lot of soul — and it speaks the truth about living, life and what we’re all doing here. Banjo out front, a great big pocket that rocks back and forth, it feels great. But more importantly, it’s a lyric that throws out all the options, never tells you what to do and throws out the one existential truth no matter what you choose: ‘One thing’s for certain, we’ve all been living since the day we were born.’”
Chesney has been teasing the project for a while, one he says is markedly different than anything he has done in the past.
“I’m ready,” Chesney recently said. “Because of the amount of time we’ve had to work… and not just work, but really just hang out, write, experiment and play with different kinds of music… I got to go places, do some things we wouldn’t normally try because we have such a clear vision of what we’re trying to do.”
Chesney will kick off his Sun Goes Down Tour on April 20 in Tampa, Florida, with Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker joining him on tour. Find music and tour dates at KennyChesney.com.