The making of an album is the first step for Kenny Chesney to get his music out.

The second step is to take it directly to the fans at his concerts, “There’s something that happens when we bring the new songs out on the road. To me, that’s when an album is really finished. Once you play the songs, and get the chance to come together in the name of music.”

So, when he released Here And Now a year ago, he got the first step in, but not the second – due to COVID and quarantine.

Having that time off the road had an affect on Kenny, “It’s funny what you learn when you’re forced to stop, I have always loved songs and songwriters, being in the studio with the most creative people. But over the last year, as much as I’ve loved making music – I always have, I’ve realized how much I truly live and breathe songs.”

So, with spending time with his music, and not having the touring schedule, Kenny says, “With ‘Knowing You’ finding its way up the charts, and so much music on Here And Now for people to still explore, there was all this music we’ve made. I decided I didn’t want to wait for the next album. I wanted these four songs to be part of what Here And Now is – making Here And Now Deluxe maybe shows a little bit of a now we never saw coming.”

Along with the existing 12 tracks, including “Happy Does,” “Knowing You,” and the number-one hit “Here and Now,” Kenny has added 4 new songs, “Wind On,” “Fields of Glory,” “My Anthem,” and “Streets.”

When it comes to adding the songs and making a Deluxe album, Kenny says, “The rules have been rewritten and rewritten, How we make music, deliver music, consume music, and they’ll probably keep changing. There’s a freedom in that for guys like me, who love writing, hearing great songs, looking for more where there’s already so much. The idea of adding songs was unheard of a few years ago; now it’s ‘When do you want to release it?’

Kenny adds, “But for all that freedom, one thing doesn’t change: a great song is a great song, friends are something you can’t buy and we are all united when we sing along. So, in that spirit, I couldn’t wait to get these songs to No Shoes Nation. Finally. Here they are.”

From his Here And Now Deluxe album, listen to one of the new tracks — “Fields Of Glory.”

Kenny’s current single at country radio is “Knowing You” — watch the music video here…

Headline Photo Credit: Allister Ann

Additional Photo Courtesy of Warner Music Nashville