Kenny Chesney is embracing “joy” with his 21st studio record on the way.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member appeared on TODAY on Thursday morning (September 17), where he spoke about the record (Silver Sands Marina), his two-year run at Sphere Las Vegas, his 2027 stadium tour and more.

“You hope that the record that you put out is a reflection, is a mirror, of where you are in your life, and I feel like this record is,” Chesney said. “The thing that I love about it, I was afforded the gift of time for this one. Usually when an artist has a record and they put it out, and it does well, the label kind of wants another one…in a 12- or 18-month period. But I wasn’t on that treadmill. I was at the Sphere for two years, I wrote a book, I was doing stuff. And so, it took about three years to get this album where I wanted it, and I was very thankful… I think there’s a lot of emotions on this record that make you feel really alive, and I’m very proud of that,” he said. When he finally created the record he wanted to create, “it was joy. And I think about the audience when I look at their faces every night when I’m out there because it’s a real special thing to see.”

So far, Chesney has released the title track, “Burn My Boat,” “Carry On” and “Goldfish” from his 11-track album, which will arrive on Friday, September 25.

Burn My Boat
Carry On
Talkin’ Dirt
Goldfish, featuring Lily Meola
Silver Sands Marina
It Just Got Weird, featuring Megan Moroney
Sad Casino
Shot A Car Into Space
Remember Me That Way
What We Got Going On, with Colbie Caillat
Shot Glass

Chesney, who will take the stage this weekend at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival, recently announced his return to stadiums on “The Original Vibe Room Tour” in 2027. The lineup also includes Eric Church, Sheryl Crow and Greylan James. Chesney said during his interview on TODAY, “we’re very grateful we played two years at the Sphere in Vegas. Very grateful for that. It was an amazing experience. And now we’re really grateful to be going out there…getting into the mix a little bit. It’s gonna be fun.”

“We started the Vibe Room in 2002 as a place for our people – the adults, guests, musicians – to come together, get a drink, hang out, meet up, maybe make some new friends,” Chesney said in a statement when he announced the tour earlier this week. “It was a fun place, and I feel like that’s what 2027’s gonna be all about. So what else would we call it? The Original Vibe Room Tour 2027 is gonna be all the things, but especially a lot of fun, a lot of music and a lot of songs people have lived their lives to. Get ready. We’re coming”

Chesney will take part in the star-studded, genre-spanning lineup of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One. The lineup also includes BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Goo Goo Dolls, Lainey Wilson, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg, Weezer, Zara Larsson, and more. Ryan Seacrest will host the two-night event when it returns on September 18 and September 19 to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fans can tune in to the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival as the event will be broadcast live each night via iHeartMedia radio stations throughout the country across more than 150 markets. Disney + and Hulu will be the Official Streaming Destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed each night exclusively to all Disney + and Hulu subscribers.

Christa Cooper