“Megan's Story is Really Unbelievable”: Kenny Chesney Praises Megan Moroney in Sweet Tribute Ahead of the 2025 CMA Awards

A heartwarming friendship.

During a teaser video for the new Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards documentary, Kenny Chesney has offered a sweet homage to his good pal, Megan Moroney.

The duo have become close friends over the past couple of years, after touring together on Chesney's Sun Goes Down run last summer, and then teaming up on the surprise collaboration, ‘You Had To Be There’. Last month, Moroney delivered a touching tribute to the No Shoes Nation icon, performing a stunning cover of ‘Knowing You’ during Chesney's momentous Country Music Hall of Fame induction.

With Chesney and Moroney set to perform at the 2025 CMA Awards this week (Wednesday, November 18th), both artists have appeared on the Center Stage episode to discuss their fruitful creative partnership, as well as endearingly toasting their friendship.

Chesney, who will be performing a career-spanning medley at the ceremony, begins by warmly gushing, “Megan's story is really unbelievable, because it wasn't that long ago she was one of many college students that went with a bunch of friends”.

Moroney, who is taking the CMA Awards stage to perform her fan-favourite single, ‘6 Months Later’, jokes about the fact that she bought seats right at the back of the stadium to see Chesney perform during college, “I never would've thought that I would go from the nosebleeds to singing about the tour we were on together”.

Chesney goes on to stress how he admires Moroney's ambition, “And it just shows you how powerful this dream is. Seven years later, she's on the road with me”. Moroney then underlines how much wisdom she's gleaned from the ‘I Go Back’ hitmaker, “I learned a lot from Kenny by standing side-stage every single night. After I played, I would literally go stand by the gate and watch every single show”.

Moroney penned ‘You Had To Be There’ as a Christmas present for Chesney, with the ‘Tennessee Orange’ singer-songwriter flying down to the US Virgin Islands to surprise the Knoxville native with the deeply personal track on New Year's Day.

We're hoping ‘You Had To Be There’ isn't the last time we get to hear Chesney and Moroney on a track together, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that this dynamic duo join forces once again during Chesney's Sphere Las Vegas residency next year...

Watch the heartwarming clip below:

Center Stage: The Road to the CMA Awards airs on ABC tonight (Tuesday, November 18th) at 10/9c. Viewers can then stream it on Disney+ and Hulu the next day.

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