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A youthful Kenny
Chesney is already steeped in country music tradition. He cites George
Jones and Merle Haggard among his biggest influences. He also counts Aaron
Tippin among his friends and works with songwriters who frequently
contribute to George Strait and Joe Diffie. Chesney
grew up in the small east Tennessee town of Luttrell, 15 miles north of
Knoxville. Even though he didn't play music as a youngster, it was all
around him. "When you grow up in east Tennessee you're consumed by
country music, gospel music, bluegrass music, just music in general. I
grew up listening to all that, plus rock and roll," he said. Chesney
never even thought of a career in music until he was in college at East
Tennessee State in Johnson City. "I got a guitar one year for
Christmas and my whole life changed," he recalled. "I spent four
or five hours a day playing guitar. It was like a drug, and I was
hooked." |
