Kenny Chesney to Receive BMI President’s Award Because of His ‘Profound Influence’

Kenny Chesney will be celebrated with the BMI President’s Award at the 64th annual BMI Country Awards on Nov. 1. The singer is being honored for his lengthy career as a songwriter and entertainer within the country industry.

“Kenny Chesney is first and foremost a songwriter,” says Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, in a press release. “Not only has he earned the respect of the songwriting community, but he has also developed into a top-notch recording artist who re-wrote the concert touring experience by selling out stadiums year after year. He is a friend to up-and-coming artists and songwriters and is as inspiring as he is talented. It is time to salute him for a career that has brought so much to so many, and is far from over.”

The awards will be held at BMI’s Nashville office and BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill will host the ceremony with Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville. In addition to Chesney, the genre's top songwriters and publishers will be honored.

The BMI President’s Award is presented to songwriters who have "distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry." Previous winners of the BMI President’s Award include Pink, Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn, Pitbull, Adam Levine, Gloria & Emilio Estefan and Toni Braxton.

In the midst of a busy touring year, Chesney will release his studio album Cosmic Hallelujah on Oct. 28.

"There’s one very special song I’ve been holding for years called ‘Coach’ that we went in and re-cut,” the country star says. “It really captured that song’s heart."

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