Kenny Chesney Honored With CMA’s Pinnacle Award

Kenny Chesney accepts the CMA’s Pinnacle Award. Photo: Image Group LA/ABC via Getty Images)

Kenny Chesney earned two top honors this week, including both BMI’s President’s Award, and the CMA’s Pinnacle Award. The latter was presented to Chesney by Peyton Manning during The 50th Annual CMA Awards, held Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena.

“’Setting The World On Fire’ isn’t just the title of one of Kenny Chesney’s many smash hits,” said Manning. “It’s exactly what Kenny has been doing year after year for more than two decades now, in a winning career that has taken this singer-songwriter and touring sensation to the very pinnacle of success. That’s how you become a champion and that’s how Kenny sold out 126 stadium shows and he has earned one of the rarest of honors in music. The Pinnacle award was created to recognize those artists who have made country music a more powerful global force, forever impacting in a big and positive way, this music we all love.”

The honor was previously presented to Garth Brooks in 2005 and Taylor Swift in 2013.

A congratulatory video detailed his life and career, and featured congratulations from Old Dominion, George Strait, actress Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, and more.

“When I think of what this means to me, it means connection, with a lot of people who invested their life in my music and what we do,” Chesney said from the stage, where he thanked many industry colleagues, including Joe Galante, Dale Morris, Clint Higham, and Sony Music Nashville CEO Randy Goodman.

“To those fans out there who we call No Shoes Nation, I want to thank you for allowing me and my band and my road family to hold your lives in the palm of our hands for a little while. And for that I know there is a responsibility that comes with that and that’s a responsibility I’ll embrace. And thank you for loving the music and for giving me an amazing life.”

Chesney has amassed 40 Top 10 hits during his career, including 29 No. 1 singles. He is a four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner.

Chesney also spoke with ABC News about what both awards mean to him and to his career.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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