Photo: Getty Images
Kenny Chesney said his soon-to-debut collaboration with Megan Moroney marks a “first” in his decades-long career.
Moroney teamed up with Chesney on a duet that she wrote after spending her summer on the megastar’s headlining stadium tour. She noted the full circle moment that she went from sitting in section 312 at a Kenny Chesney concert in May 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, to opening for him in massive venues seven years later.
The reigning Country Music Association New Artist of the Year wrote “You Had To Be There” about that seven-year journey. She wrote it as a gift to Chesney, who immediately asked to play the song again.
“I couldn’t believe it because it was a true postcard, if you will, of everything we experienced on the road,” Chesney said as he reflected on the first time he heard “You Had To Be There.” He later said, “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.”
Moroney announced “You Had To Be There” on April 30, and revealed a 25-second sneak peek on TikTok. The duet with Chesney will release on Friday (May 9). It arrives as Moroney continues her headlining “Am I Okay? Tour.” See the list of tour stops below, and watch Moroney and Chesney share the story behind their song here:
Megan Moroney’s AM I OKAY? TOUR:
MAY
15 | Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
16 | Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater
17 | Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
22 | Washington, DC – The Anthem
24 | Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
29 | Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
30 | Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
JUNE
12 | Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
13 | Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
14 | Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
20 | Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors
JULY
17 | Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
19 | Buffalo, NY – Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
AUGUST
01 | Boston, MA – Roadrunner
02 | Boston, MA – Roadrunner
SEPTEMBER
12 | Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
13 | Charlotte, NC – Bojangles Coliseum
16 | Independence, MO – Cable Dahmer Arena
18 | West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
19 | Idaho Falls, ID – Mountain America Center
20 | Lake Tahoe, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
24 | Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
26 | Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
27 | Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
30 | Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
OCTOBER
2 | Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
4 | Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
10 | Dallas, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre