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A touching tribute.
Kenny Chesney has added a brand new cap to his merchandise store - but this is no mere variation of his standard ‘Blue Chair Bay Rum’ or ‘No Shoes Nation’ insignia. This one holds a deeper, special meaning for the ‘I Go Back’ hitmaker, as it serves as an homage to his beloved dog, Da Ruba Girl, who passed away in late 2022.
Chesney has confirmed via social media he's released a selection of red ‘Da Ruba Girl’ caps to his website store, enabling fans to represent the Knoxville native's adorable pitbull mix when they attend his Las Vegas Sphere shows next summer.
These newly unveiled red caps have been made in the classic trucker style, with ‘Da Ruba Girl’ proudly stitched across the front panel, inside a simple white box.
Chesney has even shared a photo of him donning one of the newly released caps against an idyllic ocean backdrop. The tropical country trailblazer wrote a sweet ode to Ruby many years ago, with the track quickly blossoming into a fan-favourite. In December 2022, after her passing, Chesney gave ‘Da Ruba Girl’ an official streaming release for the first time, with all proceeds going towards Stray Rescue of St. Louis, which helps to re-home dogs in the US Virgin Islands. It's not yet clear whether proceeds from these new caps will go towards the charity.
Chesney currently has another dog, Poncho, who he light-heartedly revealed that he received from his therapist as a means of teaching him how to work on his attachment issues.
This is not the first time Chesney has release a merchandise tribute to Da Ruba Girl, with the ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ crooner dropping a range of sweatshirts inspired by Ruby as part of his Las Vegas Sphere residency this summer. Chesney took to socials shortly after to express his gratitude to fans who wore these.
More recently, the country titan appeared on Anderson Cooper's CNN podcast to delve into the grief he and his partner at the time, Mary, experienced when losing Ruby.
Chesney movingly shared, “It's a terrible loss...I love animals, and when Ruby passed, it was really, really difficult. It was as terrible as any friend I've ever had that has ever passed”. Anyone who has ever lost a pet can attest to his heartfelt words, and it's endearing to see Chesney helping to keep Da Ruba Girl's name alive in this way.
He sheds further light on his love for both Ruby and Poncho in his newly released book, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC, which he co-wrote alongside his good friend, Holly Gleason.
Fans can donate to the Stray Rescue of St. Louis below:
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