“Love You Brother”: Kenny Chesney and Robert Kraft Cheer on New England Patriots During Opening Game vs Las Vegas Raiders

As the summer nights begin to draw in and Fall looms on the horizon, although we mourn the gradual disappearance of the sunshine, we also eagerly count down the days until football season begins once again - and thankfully, that moment is now upon us.

Kenny Chesney joined his good friend Robert Kraft to cheer on his beloved New England Patriots in their opening game of the 25/26 season, versus the Las Vegas Raiders.

Unfortunately, while it was neck-and-neck for much of the game, a poor third quarter cost the Patriots, and they ended up losing 20-13 to the Raiders at Gillette Stadium.

Soon after, the ‘I Go Back’ hitmaker took to Instagram to pay tribute to his buddy, Kraft, the CEO of the Patriots, “Feels great to be back in New England to watch the first @Patriots game of the season with my friend Robert Kraft. Love you brother”.

Although it wasn't the victory they'd hoped for, judging by the warm, smiling photos Chesney has shared with Kraft, it looks like they still had a lovely time watching their team.

Chesney proudly hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, but Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts has blossomed into the unofficial home of the country legend's No Shoes Nation fanbase. It's where he named them back in 2012, with Chesney returning to the expansive venue regularly during his electrifying summer tours.

Last year, for instance, the ‘There Goes My Life’ crooner closed out his Sun Goes Down run with Zac Brown Band and Megan Moroney at the home of the New England Patriots, with Chesney delivering three high-octane, back-to-back shows there.

In his newly shared post, fans will spot a No Shoes Nation banner flying over the stadium, declaring, “12 Summers, 12 Shows, Kenny Chesney's No Shoes Nation, 1,000,000 fans”.

Chesney didn't perform at Gillette Stadium in 2025, because he was delivering his blockbuster Las Vegas Sphere residency throughout the summer, becoming the first country artist in history to headline the immersive, groundbreaking venue.

The No Shoes Nation figurehead has confirmed he's returning to Sphere in 2026, but it remains to be seen whether we'll get some stadium shows alongside this, with fans no doubt hoping to see him take the Gillette Stadium stage again soon.

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