Kenny Chesney Was Announced As One Of The 2025 Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductees
On March 25, the Country Music Hall Of Fame revealed the 2025 inductees, Kenny Chesney being one of them. Every year, three people get inducted into the Hall of Fame in three different categories:
- Non-Performer: The non-performer category is a recording and/or touring musician, songwriter, or non-performer.
- Modern Era: An artist becomes eligible for Modern Era induction 20 years after they reach national prominence.
- Veterans Era: An artist becomes eligible for Veterans Era induction 40 years after they reach national prominence.
2024’s inductees were James Burton (Non-Performer), Toby Keith (Modern Era), and John Anderson (Veteran’s Era).
If an artist passes away, they are not eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame for a year. However, the induction can move forward if voting has already ended when they pass away. That’s exactly what happened with Toby Keith last year. He died on February 5, 2024, about six weeks before the induction announcement, but voting had already been completed.
Vince Gill announced each inductee on Tuesday (March 25) and said some very kind things about each one. The inductees are Tony Brown (Non-Performer), June Carter Cash (Veterans Era), and Kenny Chesney (Modern Era).
While June Carter could not be there physically, we know she and her husband, Johnny Cash, were watching from Heaven. Two of her children, Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash, attended.
Kenny’s Speech Focused On His Love Of Country Music
Kenny Chesney, the first country artist to have a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, told a story about his first live music experience, seeing Alabama about 10 miles from his house in East Tennessee.
“Something happened to me that night,” he said. “There was a fire lit in my soul that set me on this path. If you’d have told that kid that night on a hot summer night in East Tennessee that this was gonna happen, I would’ve told you that you were crazy.”
He talked about his early college days when he was in a bluegrass band and played the “Carter Family Fold” many times. Chesney said that kid would have found it unbelievable that he would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside June Carter Cash.
Kenny Chesney Reflects On Hall Of Fame Induction Announcement On Social Media
Kenny posted a series of six photos from the induction announcement and reflected on the day in the caption.
“Today felt like a dream. I am thrilled and humbled to say that I have been voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.,” he wrote. “Thanks so much to the @CMA, the @CountryMusicHof, the fans, and to my wonderful team who have dreamed this dream with me every step of the journey. Today gave me so much joy. Thanks so much to everyone.”
See his full post below. Make sure to swipe through to see all the photos.