Kenny Chesney Moved to Tears as Country Legends Serenade Him with His Own Hits — ‘I Never Dreamed This Day Would Come

When Kenny Chesney received the President’s Award at the 64th BMI Country Awards, the room filled with love — and music.

Three country greats took the stage to honor him: Keith Urban opened with a tender “I Go Back,” starting on acoustic before ripping into an electric solo, recalling Chesney’s friendship through hard times.

Songwriting legend Dean Dillon followed with “The Tin Man,” Chesney’s first single. “This song was all I needed to hear,” Dillon said — bringing Chesney to tears as his proud mother watched from the front row.

Eric Church closed the night with a gritty, heartfelt “Anything But Mine,” praising Chesney’s growth: “What he had done was great. What he was doing was better.”

For Chesney — a Tennessee native with 29 No. 1 hits, 30 million albums sold, and a reputation for electric stadium shows — the night’s deepest meaning was in the recognition of his songwriting roots.

“Hearing those guys sing my songs back to me was one of the highlights of my life,” he said. “I felt the gravity of the moment a lot.”

The celebration capped a milestone week for Chesney, who was also set to receive the CMA Pinnacle Award the following night.