A fan gifted Kenny Chesney an Iowa license plate, and in turn, he gifted dozens of concertgoers his autograph at the Iowa Speedway in Newton on Saturday.
Plenty of fans of the country star walked away from Saturday evening’s show with a signature scrawled on their caps and cowboy hats — one fan even held up a brown cowboy boot, though was not as lucky as other fans.
Chesney wore a blue shirt, blue jeans and a Blue Chair Bay rum cap, his alcohol brand, and a smile that never wavered during his over hourlong set as part of the concerts for the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend.
Fellow country superstar Carrie Underwood performed earlier in the day.
The Academy of Country Music Award winner told the crowd it was an honor to play Saturday, and that it was his first time playing at the Iowa Speedway.
Chesney performed against a backdrop of clear blue skies — a change of pace from four years ago when he’d performed at Wells Fargo Arena when a lightning strike led to a brief power loss right at the start of his performance, delaying it for 14 minutes, the Des Moines Register reported in 2019.
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“We haven’t played together in two months,” Chesney said as a way of dusting off the cobwebs with his band.
“I was a little nervous today I was gonna forget the words,” he said of his songs, prompting members of the crowd to assure him they’d help him out if he did.
Chesney played his No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs chart hit “Beer In Mexico” first.
Though Chesney wasn’t particularly chatty with the crowd during his set, he leaned down to shake or slap hands with his “No Shoes Nation” fanbase, including the small palm of a blonde-haired young boy on someone’s shoulders.
The Tennessee native has been releasing hits since the late 1990s, amassing a fanbase of multiple generations that was apparent at Saturday’s concert.
Kellie Durcholz and Kelli Steurer, both of Indiana, saw Chesney live for the first time Saturday night. The two had been fans for years. For Steurer, she’s been a fan since his start.
The pair were hoping to hear “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” Saturday night.
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Their wish — and likely the same wish of hundreds of others since its debut on his 2002 chart-topping album of the same name — was granted.
Steurer said it was her first time in Des Moines.
Her thoughts?
“A lot of cornfields,” she said, laughing.
There was one song that one Chesney fan did not get to hear, despite his hope for it.
Jack Denker of Omaha, Nebraska, wanted to hear the 1999 song “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.”
It was Denker’s first time at the Iowa Speedway.
“Big Carrie and Kenny fans,” he said, adding that this was his third time seeing both.
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The country songwriter did play many of hits Saturday, including “Summertime,” “Reality” and “Get Along.”
“American Kids” had the crowd especially loud, confidently taking over the line “A little messed up, but we’re all alright.”
“We love you guys so much,” Chesney told the audience.
Country act Zac Brown Band and popular British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will perform Sunday as part of the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend.
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Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
