"He's Going Out Of His Way To Show Up For Me": Kenny Chesney Talks About His Industry Friendship With Eric Church

In an interview with Katie and Company, Kenny Chesney gets candid about his relationship with Eric Church, and all the ways the country icon has had his back throughout his career.

Upon the announcement of Kenny Chesney's 2027 Original Vibe Room tour, Eric Church will be opening for Chesney at various shows spanning across the U.S., along with country stars such as Sheryl Crow, Old Dominion, and Greylan James.

In reflection on the two's time together throughout the course of their respective careers, Chesney opened up about all of the ways Church has supported the 'Carry On' crooner whenever they crossed paths.

"He went out and did a stadium tour with me in 2013 and even then, he didn't have to do it," said Chesney, referring to his No Shoes Nation Tour where Church performed as a co-headliner.

The 'Get Along' songster refers to Church's selflessness when supporting him throughout his endeavors, crediting the Chief for being a part of his 13th headlining stadium tour in a time where he was already cemented into the country music scene as a hit song maker, with more than enough leverage to be further pursuing his own career.

Though only working together a handful of times in the live entertainment scene throughout their careers, the two will reunite to play Chesney's 2027 tour run, where Chesney still credits Church for doing the tour simply from a place of wanting to be along for the ride as Chesney takes his live entertainment aspirations to that next level.

"Eric Church does not have to go with us, and it says a lot about him that he is - and I love him, and the only way I can wrap my brain around it is that he just wants to," Chesney continues.

Back in 2025, the Chief also helped to induct Chesney into the Country Music Hall of Fame, where he cited the first-time seeing Chesney play as "watching reality change." At his induction, Church played a medley of five Chesney hits including 'I Go Back,' 'Anything But Mine,' 'The Boys of Fall,' 'Never Wanted Nothing More,' and 'El Cerrito Place.' It feels significant and awfully sweet that the Chief was there to lift Chesney up on a night that he described as "the first time he ever felt accomplished."

"He's going out of his way to show up for me," said Chesney, appreciative of Church's pursuit of friendship and industry kinship with himself.

Coming up in similar eras, with both artists making various feats on country charts and radio in the early 2000s, it's certainly full circle that the two will come together to play again in 2027. Given their friendship, we're nearly certain the two will come together for live collaborations in the midst of their respective sets - either way, we're here for it, and we can't wait to see what the 2027 Original Vibe Room run has in store.