"No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" at Farm Aid? Kenny Chesney Added to the 2025 Festival Lineup

As we move through the summer months, we’re getting closer to one of the biggest events in 2025’s music calendar: Farm Aid.

The legendary concert is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, with Farm Aid 40 set to take place on September 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The lineup was already looking impressive, but on July 29, a few more familiar names were added to the star-studded listing.

The annual festival raises funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers across America, helping to inspire people to choose local, family farm food.

Over its lifetime, it’s seen some huge names take the stage. The first festival in 1985 was organised by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp and the three founders are set to make their annual appearances in 2025 too. Other names on the bill include Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Billy Strings and rising folk star Jesse Welles.

In an exciting turn of events, Farm Aid announced that the latest addition to the lineup is none other than Kenny Chesney. Chesney has played at the festival in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2012 so welcoming him back for the anniversary event makes perfect sense. The ‘American Kids’ singer was also elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year as the ‘Modern Era Artist’ pick, something he described as being “beyond [his] wildest dreams.” Another big moment for the Tennessee native came this year with his residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas, but now those shows are over, Farm Aid is set to be the only other performance he has lined up for this year.

“We’re excited to have Kenny Chesney back on the Farm Aid stage this year,” said Jennifer Fahy, co-executive director of Farm Aid. “He’s one of many artists who have returned to Farm Aid, generously donating their travel and performances to raise awareness about the family farmers who grow good food for all of us.”

The other new names joining Chesney in September are country legend Wynonna Judd, who will be making her Farm Aid debut, and music icon Steve Earle. Earle will be making his ninth appearance at the festival, the first of which was at the inaugural event in 1985. With such an impressive lineup of both new and old artists, this is bound to be a memorable year.

Tickets for Farm Aid 40 are still available, and with the lineup now being even bigger than before, it's looking like the celebrations will be well worth travelling to.

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