Although country pro Kenny Chesney didn't receive any nominations this year at the CMA Awards, he still brought his tireless energy to the stage, performing his single "American Kids."
The singer's voice was on point during his show-opening performance. Chesney gave a nod to American youth past and present, strumming his guitar in front of the hippie bus that appeared in the song's official music video. Shout out to the kid on the chopper from Easy Rider.
Chesney may be on the list of snubs this year, having put his solid effort, The Big Revival, out in September. It's the singer's 16th studio album, an impressive feat, considering he's been recording for 20 years.
"Here, he's back on more solid country ground with his strongest collection of songs since 2010's career-defining Hemingway's Whiskey," Rolling Stone wrote about the album. "Whether he's making a religious leap of faith ('The Big Revival') or trying to make the most of his limited days on this lonely planet ('Til It's Gone') or just tailgating before a big college football game ('Flora-Bama'), country's number-one beach bum continuously brings a sense of musical energy and emotional urgency his previous easygoing albums have sometimes lacked."
Chesney is notorious for ruling the CMAs - he's a four-time Entertainer of the Year with 39 career CMA Awards nominations and eight wins, the association's website notes. Among his awards are the Album of the Year in 2004 for When the Sun Goes Down and Music Video of the Year in 2011 for "You and Tequila" featuring Grace Potter.
