It happens a lot.
We talk to country stars and inevitably, it comes up… “Boston is special.” “We love playing Boston.” “Boston is our favorite city to play.” “You people in New England are crazy. We like that.” These are just a few of the things I’ve heard country superstars say over the years. Some are adamant about professing their love of Boston, relaying their appreciation for our passion, showing up and being loud.
Yup, that’s a huge compliment. And that’s so… New England.
But who is OUR biggest fan?
The first names that come to mind are of course, Kenny Chesney. I mean he named his fan club while playing at Gillette Stadium. Dan + Shay always make sure to tell us that their fans here are #1 and they helped to make them. Cole Swindell has a special place in his heart for New England because he wrote one of his biggest hits here. Zac Brown Band considers Fenway their home away from home. Jason Aldean can’t get enough of our ball park.
Whether it’s the food, the history, our sports or because we are loud and proud, there’s no denying our friends from the South (where the majority of country artists grew up) appreciate the fact that we appreciate them and their music!
So let’s see who’s showing Boston team pride and who’s told us straight out, they love us!
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney has to be our (New England’s) #1 fan. I have never, ever heard another country artist speak as much or as impassioned about this part of the country than Kenny.
He did, indeed, name his fan club No Shoes Nation, while playing at his favorite venue, Gillette Stadium. Foxboro is purposely, always the last stop on his tour.
Here’s what he had to say about that:
The love affair with New England started because Chesney had his first radio station visit here. We were one of the first in the country to play his songs. He never forgot that.
Scotty McCreery
Scotty has a real connection to New England, and it’s not just because we are us. haha. It’s an actual connection. His dad grew up in Maine, and passed along his love of Boston sports teams. Scotty told patriots.com about his dad, “He’s from the very southern tip of Maine – Elliot in the Kittery area – and then Portsmouth, N.H. He grew up a Boston sports fan, so that’s all he knew and he passed that down to me here in North Carolina. I’m like the lone wolf, but it’s fun to be a Patriots fan down here because most folks, they’re Pats haters for sure. That makes it more interesting.”
Here’s what Scotty told me about being a New England fan. (BTW, he’s not the only one in the family who is.)
Dan+Shay
Dan and Shay have always shown Boston the love. “Our best fans are in Boston.”
Hear it here:
Dan + Shay sold out the TD Garden in Boston
Zac Brown
Did you hear what Zac Brown said about playing at Fenway Park?
Hear it here:
Cole Swindell
Cole Swindell had a good friend who once played for the Red Sox. Pitcher Craig Kimbrel who played for the Sox from 2016-2018 and Swindell were friends. And did you know Cole wrote “You Should Be Here” here, in New England, at Gillette Stadium!
Listen:
Jason Aldean
How can he not be a fan? Jason Aldean was the first country star to play at Fenway Park, and he sold it out. Twice. And, wait there’s more. He also broke a record for beer sales by a music act at Fenway. Feather in the cap, for sure.
Listen to Jason talk about it:
Kip Moore
Since day 1, Kip Moore connected with people in Boston. He helped to build a skatepark for disadvantaged kids in the city here back in 2015. We talked a little about that in 2017 and his love of our city, which he calls “my town.”
Chase Rice
It’s a close call as to who has played around Boston more, Kip Moore or Chase Rice. But Chase is always happy to play here and sport his favorite Boston teams. He speaks the love here:
Dierks Bentley
He comes back to Boston year after year for a reason. “Fans are extra crazy up there for some reason.”
Before he became the superstar he is today, Dierks did a charity event for us at the Hard Rock Boston.
Hard Rock Cafe 2012
