Since he was a young boy growing up in East Tennessee, just miles away from Kenny Chesney’s hometown, Greylan James has idolized the country superstar. From watching Chesney headline Neyland Stadium to being inspired to write songs, become an entertainer and ultimately move to Nashville to chase his dreams, it’s safe to say Chesney and his music have had a lasting impact on James.
Now, that childhood dream is coming full circle. James has been announced as a special guest on Chesney’s Original Vibe Room Tour 2027, and the singer-songwriter admits the news is still sinking in.
On a hot, sunny day in Nashville, we caught up with James to chat about this major moment in his career, and he was beaming from the moment he walked into the room.
“It’s just been the hardest thing to grasp,” he admitted. “I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, about five minutes from where he grew up. His mom cut my hair back home. I just always wanted to be Kenny Chesney. I always told people when I was in school that I’m going to grow up to be Kenny Chesney. And now I’ve gotten to write songs for him, which is really cool. But now to think about sharing the stage and being in those stadiums, not just as a fan to be on the stage, it’s going to be insane.”
James got the phone call from his manager and admits the news was so overwhelming that it brought him to his knees.
“I dropped everything I was doing and I just kind of dropped my knees and prayed to God and thanked him because it’s been the coolest thing that I’ve ever got to process.”
We asked James to think back to that day when he saw Chesney headline Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers, and reflect on the full-circle moment he is now experiencing.
“I saw him open at where he played headlined at Neyland Stadium when I was seven years old and that’s where I got my first concert t-shirt and I cut the sleeves off of it, wore puka shells and just pretended I was Kenny for the next few months. So to go from that to now, I mean the little me inside is just freaking out and I don’t think it’s going to stop until the end of next summer.”
James is on the lineup alongside two of his other favorite artists: Sheryl Crow, who he admits is a “staple” in his van when traveling the country with his band, and Eric Church, who James considers “the pinnacle” as a songwriter.
Speaking of songwriter, James is already thinking about what it will be like to link up with Chesney and write songs together while they’re on the road.
“I’ve written songs for Kenny, so getting to go out there and write songs.. He’s been texting me about maybe writing songs before we get out and play. The whole thing is just such a pinch myself thing that I’m just going to get to hang out with Kenny Chesney over the summer. I mean, I’m not just going to listen to him on my boat. So that’s going to be insane.”
In an Instagram post shared early Tuesday, Greylan James summed up his excitement, writing, “They say ‘don’t meet your heroes’… WELL IM GOIN ON TOUR WITH MINE.”
The Original Vibe Room Tour 2027 kicks off April 24 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium and will wrap up August 28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Fans can register now at KennyChesney.com for early ticket access through Seated. Registered fans will receive a presale code ahead of the Vibe Room Presale, which begins Thursday, September 17 at 10 a.m. local time. Registration is free but does not guarantee tickets.
The post Greylan James’ Childhood Dream Comes True As He Joins Kenny Chesney’s 2027 Stadium Tour [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
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