“You are One of the Most Thoughtful Humans I’ve Met”: Kenny Chesney and Megan Moroney Discuss Heartwarming New Song, ‘You Had to Be There’

Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney have sat down for an endearing conversation ahead of their new song, ‘You Had To Be There’, which arrives tonight (Friday, May 9th).

The momentous duet marks the first time the artists have collaborated in this way, but Moroney and Chesney have been good friends ever since they hit the road together last summer as part of the latter's expansive Sun Goes Down stadium tour.

They shared a slew of heartwarming on-stage moments, such as when Megan Moroney emerged dressed head-to-toe as Kenny Chesney during their Gillette Stadium triple-header.

In the newly shared discussion, which takes place at Kenny Chesney's place in the US Virgin Islands, Megan Moroney sits across from Chesney at a truly gigantic dining table.

Moroney begins by explaining how she penned ‘You Had To Be There’ as a New Year's Eve present for Chesney, to express her gratitude for all the lessons she learned out on the road from him, as well as underlining how much she appreciates their friendship.

Kenny Chesney echoes Megan Moroney's excitement ahead of the collaboration, which finds Moroney reflecting on a Chesney concert she attended back in 2018, before fast-forwarding to the full-circle moment she opened for him.

Chesney muses, “I couldn’t believe it because it was a true postcard, if you will, of everything we experienced on the road...As far as I know, nobody has ever written a song for me. And if that’s true, I’m really glad that ‘You Had To Be There’ is the first one”.

In an Instagram post, Megan Moroney has shed further light on the inspiration behind the track, “As y’all know, I write about things that are important to me & the sun goes down tour + becoming friends with @kennychesney last summer was undoubtedly a highlight of my career & my life. I wrote out the lyrics & gifted this song to him for Christmas & thankfully he loved it… so excited for y’all to hear it on Friday”.

In turn, Kenny Chesney has sweetly gushed in the comments, “What a gift Megan. You are one of the most thoughtful humans I’ve met. So excited for everyone to hear it”.

Moroney and Chesney's friendship has been one of the happier stories we've watched unfold in country music in recent months, with the camaraderie and mentor-mentee relationship they share serving as a reminder of the unifying power of the genre.

Especially given the movingly unique story behind its creation, we can't wait to hear the full studio version of Moroney and Chesney's ‘You Had To Be There’ when it drops at midnight.

For more on Megan Moroney, see below: