Kenny Chesney Sings Taylor Swift’s Praises, Labels Her One of the “Most Amazing” Artists of Our Generation

Kenny Chesney knew Taylor Swift had “it” well before the rest of us did. The pair met at an airport when Swift was an unsigned teenager. Much about the “Fortnight” singer’s life has changed drastically since then, but her friendship with Chesney has not. The CMA’s four-time Entertainer of the Year still never misses an opportunity to sing Swift’s praises. The country star let his Swiftie flag fly once again during a recent interview with Pat McAfee.

“One of the Most Amazing Artists of Our Time”

Taylor Swift was just 16 when she released her self-titled debut album in 2006. Critics praised her “honesty, intelligence and idealism” while also maintaining an air of youthful innocent. Fast forward nearly 20 years later, and the “Shake It Off” singer’s career is now best described as an empire.

[RELATED: Kenny Chesney Admits To Seeing Taylor Swift’s Talent but Is Shocked To See What She Became]

Kenny Chesney has had some up-close-and-personal insight into Swift’s career trajectory. And he knows it didn’t come easy.

“For those that know her, like I do, you know the work that went into it,” Chesney said during a June 20 appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’s easy to look at it all and go, ‘Oh wow, this is unbelievable. We are going to emulate this.’ Because we are in an industry of followers, that is just the way it is. One thing I can say about Taylor, first of all, she’s a brilliant writer and a great artist. But she worked really hard.” 

Kenny Chesney Jokes That He Could Never Go Pop

After years of dipping her toe into pop waters, Taylor Swift took the full plunge with 2014’s 1989. The album’s opener, “Welcome to New York,” could have alternately been titled, “So Long Nashville.”

Kenny Chesney has also had plenty of crossover success in his 30-year career. However, the “Anything But Mine” singer humbly accepts that he could never do what Swift did.

“I can’t decide, ‘Okay, I’m going to make a pop record,’” Chesney told McAfee. “I sing the way I sing. I just don’t think it would be authentic. It would be very disingenuous for me to do that, but those who can… of course, Taylor. I mean, she is just one of the most amazing artists of our time. And very obviously, very diverse.”  

Featured image by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Kenny Chesney