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Each time Kenny Chesney has returned home, he has done it in bigger way.

In 2000, the Luttrell native performed at Thompson-Boling Arena. He followed the next year by filling the 24,000-seat venue to the top.

Saturday, Chesney fulfilled a longtime dream by performing at the home of the University of Tennessee Vols. Among his 58,000-plus friends were onstage guests Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and football star Peyton Manning.

The show, which was filmed by Country Music Television for an expected TV special in the future, included country stars Brooks & Dunn, Deana Carter, Rascal Flatts and the Warren Brothers.

Yet, the celebration encompassed more than just Neyland Stadium. A section of Neyland Drive just beside the stadium was closed to automobile traffic and designated " Kenny Land." At " Kenny Land," country music fans with concert tickets could buy beer, cowboy hats and music artist merchandise or buy tickets for climbs up a rock wall or have their faces painted.

A group of young women - huddled near a beer stand - who had bought tickets on the first day that they had gone on sale gave some indication of why Chesney had such a dedicated following.

"It's his body!" said Jennifer Denkins, who had driven from Jackson, Ala., for the event.

Liz Hunt, one of the group of friends who is from Knoxville, added that Chesney's music had a little something to do with it, too.

"His music isn't the sad, sappy stuff that a lot of country music is," said Hunt.

Other acts on the bill had their own fans. Tray Howard, 15, and Marci Riggs, 7, both listed Deana Carter as their favorite.

Marci's mother, Sandy Riggs, said that she had anticipated spending $25 each for tickets, but was pleasantly surprised that ticket prices had dropped to $10 on Friday when she purchased them. Early tickets were priced at $50, but the price fell during the last weeks of sales. Promoters had hoped that the show would break a record for the largest country concert - a record set by George Strait for a show that drew 76,000 fans.

Rain put a damper on the early part of the event. A downpour began a little after 4 p.m. and rain continued to sprinkle on and off throughout the evening.

Beer sales also created a bit of confusion at the site. While beer was sold in the area designated as " Kenny Land," it was not legal on the University of Tennessee campus and open beer was illegal on the street outside of the beer garden area.

Angie Gorman and Debbie Ogle were with a group that was stopped with beer cups walking into " Kenny Land." They were allowed to pour out their beer before entering the beer-available area.

"I was 10 feet away from where I could have beer," said Ogle, who had planned on having a tailgate party before the show, but had arrived late.

Dave Chesney, Kenny 's father, was circulating all around the venue, visiting with friends and fans.

"I've been all over this place," said the elder Chesney, in a skybox high above the field. "It's just unreal from a father's standpoint ... I can remember when he was standing in front of the mirror imitating Elvis, and he's never lost track of where he wanted to go."

Dave said that when his son called to tell him that he was going to stage a show at Neyland Stadium he got tears in his eyes.

"He asked what was wrong and I told him, 'I just know how much it means to you to do this,' " said Dave.

That a concert could be held at the venue at all was an accomplishment. The last time that a concert was held at Neyland Stadium was 1984, when the Jacksons performed for two nights at the venue. Worry of damage to the field caused the Rolling Stones to be turned down for a show a few years ago.

Looking out over the crowd, Dave said he "just felt like parachuting" into it. "I'm amazed, but I'm so happy he has gotten to this level. I know how hard he's worked to get here."

Dave said that his son would be exhausted after the show and planned to take three weeks off to go the Caribbean before resuming his tour, which will wrap up in August.

"So then he'll be able to attend some of the UT games," said Dave.

He said that the Neyland Stadium event was a precursor to his son's next career jump.

"The next step is to move into the big venues. You talk to people in the music business and they'll tell you that he is the next George Strait. He started at Thompson-Boling Arena two and three years ago, and then he went to the bigger halls. Now he's starting THIS here."

Chesney's father said that his son's determination and dedication have always helped him achieve his dreams.

"Even now he says, 'I'm never looking back, because there's always somebody there waiting to catch me.' "

© 2003, Knoxville News Sentinel
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