Country star Kenny Chesney has announced he is postponing the first 11 shows on his 2020 Chillaxification Tour.
The singer was set to kick off the trek on April 18 in Arlington, Texas. None of the affected shows are in Canada.
“In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love,” Chesney said, in a release. “I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing.
“So, while we wait to see how this terrible virus is going to impact our country, I think it’s only fair to move these first several dates now. We are figuring some of this out as we go, but I know people buy airline tickets, book hotel rooms – and I wanted to try to give everyone as much time to sort that out as possible.”
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Chesney has postponed seven stadium and four amphitheatre shows between April 18 and May 28.
“Nobody wants to get out there for these shows more than I do,” Chesney said. “Music is medicine when your soul or your heart need healing, but I don’t want my music to put anyone at risk. So, I promise: we are going to work as quickly as we can to sort out what we can and can’t do in terms of these dates. We’re going to cross our fingers this pandemic will resolve as some of the experts have suggested.”
He said he hopes to launch the tour on May 30 in Pittsburgh. “But mostly, I hope this virus is contained, and the suffering and deaths are kept to the fewest possible people.”
Chesney's fellow country acts Dan + Shay and Zac Brown Band have also halted tours.