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Kenny Chesney isn’t a fan of artists who cancel concerts at the last minute.
During an appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, the country music superstar reflected on the work ethic that shaped his decades-long career and criticized performers who leave fans disappointed after they’ve already made plans to attend a show.
Maher brought up stories he’d heard about Chesney performing through injuries and contrasted that mindset with some performers today.
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“I always think about it when, like, not to always be s—ing on the younger generation, but where s— is due, I will s—,” Maher said.
“The way they cancel shows because it doesn’t even have to be something physical. It’s just, ‘I’m not feeling it.'”
“So all you people who came out here and rearranged your life and your dates and your weeks and your babysitter to come see me, I’m sorry. I got that sinus headache.”
Chesney agreed, revealing he’s seen artists back out even after fans were already waiting for them.
“I know people that canceled shows before they went on that people were already there, and they just said, ‘I’m not going on,'” Chesney said.
“And then now the thing is… is they’re not mentally fit.”
Maher added, “Right? Or they show up three hours late.”
“Yeah,” Chesney replied.
The “American Kids” singer explained that years spent playing clubs, bars and casinos helped shape a different perspective.
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“There’s a certain thing, like I think that — and how I came up and all the clubs and the casinos and whatever it is, I played and then getting to the next level,” Chesney said.
“There’s a certain gratitude, and I think it was the way I was brought up also, but you just didn’t cancel. I mean, it’s show business.”
The comments came after Maher referenced one of the stories that has followed Chesney throughout his career.
“There’s that story about you having a foot crushed or some s— and you still did the show,” Maher said.
In 2008, the East Tennessee native suffered a painful injury when his right foot became trapped in a hidden stage elevator while opening a concert at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, according to Pollstar.
Despite the injury, Chesney finished the entire show.
“I took one look at those fans and there was no way I wasn’t going on,” Chesney said in a statement after the concert, according to the outlet.
“Sometimes the energy and the adrenaline pull you through.”
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The country singer explained that stopping the show never crossed his mind.
“They had come to rock and there was no way I was sending them home with anything less than the best of what me and my guys came to do — put it all out there and give them back at least as good as they gave us,” he said.
“And honestly, through the pain, through all of it, Columbia, South Carolina, totally got me through.”
According to Pollstar, Chesney’s boot was cut off after the performance, and he received treatment from a University of South Carolina team doctor. The injury was not expected to impact the remainder of his tour.
In a separate interview with Extra at the time, Chesney described the frightening accident and why he continued performing despite the pain.
“I was literally in shock for two or three songs,” he said.
Still, he never considered leaving the stage.
“I knew those people had been out there all day,” Chesney added. “Pure adrenaline is what got me through the show.”
Later in the conversation on the podcast, Maher reflected on his own work ethic, claiming he has never canceled a show during more than four decades on the road.
“Never canceled,” Maher said. “Also, never missed a show in over 40 years. About 40 years on the road.”
The comedian said he only missed appearances when travel circumstances physically prevented him from getting there.
Chesney suggested that part of the difference comes from how artists entered the business when he and Maher were getting started.
The country singer spent years performing in clubs, bars and casinos before reaching the stadium level, and he told Maher those experiences taught him to appreciate the work itself.
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“But it is interesting to see there is a difference, and everybody’s different, whatever,” Chesney said. “But I know how hard you worked coming up and doing what you did. And you had a dream, and you were meeting people and the work was a part of the process.”
Maher replied, “Same as you.”
“Same as me,” Chesney agreed.
While acknowledging that performers today still work hard, Chesney suggested some aspiring entertainers focus too much on fame and not enough on the craft.
“It is a little different today. I’m not saying that people don’t work hard because they do,” he said.
The country star recalled hearing a common question from people hoping to break into the entertainment industry.
“When people ask me for advice… and there’s this internal voice telling me as soon as they say this, they’ll say, ‘Do you have any advice on how to make it?'”
“And there’s this internal voice inside of me thinking that person’s never going to make it.”
Chesney quickly clarified that he would never actually say that to someone seeking guidance.
“It ain’t up to me to tell them,” he said.
Instead, the singer explained that success should never be the primary motivation.
“You don’t do it to make it,” Chesney said. “You do it because it’s what you do. You got up every night and did your thing because it’s what you do.”
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