Meet Hillbilly rock star Kenny Chesney

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Feb. 18, 2007. It was updated on July 17, 2007.

Country music singer Kenny Chesney grew up in a Tennessee town of less than 1,000, is barely 5'6" tall, weighs just 143 lbs. and is balding, to boot. Yet according to Billboard and Pollstar magazines, over the last three years, no one in music—not Madonna, not U2, not the Rolling Stones—have sold more concert tickets in America than the 39-year-old singer.

As CNN's Anderson Cooper reports for 60 Minutes, last year alone Chesney made $76 million on tour. While some know of him from the tabloid coverage of his brief marriage to actress Renee Zellweger, his small town roots and hybrid sound of country, rock and island music have earned him a reputation as America's Hillbilly rock star.

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To find out why Kenny Chesney has become so popular, Cooper caught up with him last summer in Detroit.

With a small video camera in tow, the 60 Minutes team joined him as he was preparing to go onstage. He begins hidden in a road case, rolled into the middle of the stadium, through an unsuspecting crowd.

"I make these guys roll this case out like three or four times a night to get the crowd used to seeing it," Chesney says.

Chesney tours relentlessly. He has played nearly 1,500 concerts over the last 13 years.

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Photos: Kenny Chesney

Photos: Renee Zellweger

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"Ok, we're officially in the middle of the stadium now," Cooper remarks, rolling along inside the case. "I gotta tell you, sitting in here, I always thought being a rock superstar was really glamorous."

"It's not that glamorous, it really is not," Chesney says.

"So, where are we now?" Cooper asks.

"We are in the middle of Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and we are literally in the middle of about 60,000 people right now," Chesney replies.

With a knock as the signal they have arrived, Chesney crawls out of the box and into a cramped waiting room. "I'm gonna come up and I'm gonna be in the middle of this football stadium. Pretty powerful stuff, man," he says.

When Chesney finally appears, the crowd erupts. For the next two hours, he is constantly in motion.

His songs are as much classic rock as they are classic country. He sings not about whiskey-soaked heartache but about first love, best friends, milestone moments that make up everyday life in America.

"I love the fact that I can go out there on stage with a guitar and sing a song that means something to somebody," Chesney says.

"Someone said to us about you that you're committed to the dignity of small-town America," Cooper remarks.

"It sounds like a cliché, but it…you do sing about what you know about. And I grew up in a small town, and I grew up in a place where your whole world revolved around friends, family, school, and church, and sports. And that's it. And I loved that," he tells Cooper.

Chesney also loves the Caribbean and there's an island vibe in much of his music and his videos. Like Jimmy Buffet, Chesney is selling a beach party lifestyle his fans embrace.

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[jetlizhan]

i have a friend that just goes nuts over this kenny chesney; even my 'wild about men' sister really likes him - I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!

[bluestardad]

Please be kind to Kenny; He may just be a confused little needledick pimp that talks a good game but when it comes time to show and beat it down hard or knock the bottom out of that little girl, he is limp as a noodle. If he had any honor and was gay he would say so. But for fueling his publicity he is keeping it a secret to gain more media time.

[tuckerndfw]

Any adult guy who willingly uses the name "Kenny" is gay.

Kenny Gay Boy really needs to come out of the closet.

But, who really cares if he is or isn't?

It seems kind of stupid to use "fraud" as a reason for divorce when most states provide "irreconcilable differences" as a reason with no further explanation.

[bluestardad]

Hey he married a beautiful girl could not sleep with her so that does not mean he is gay maybe he likes small farm animals. Give the guy a break!

[naber1961]

being gay is not bad. its trying to hide it thats bad. I know I lived it.

[naber1961]

Cooper and Kenny are BOTH gay. now doubt on either

[bildooreilly]

Anderson Cooper is a "former" CIA operative by the way. Media and Government are in bed together and the things you watch and let influence you, even their stupid sitcoms, are full of mind control and propaganda.

[agnim]

"Ben Affleck loves this story...it takes the pressure off!

Posted by mnelsonix at 01:13 PM : Feb 15, 2007"

LOL LMAO

Is Ben-g.ay? LOL

[bildooreilly]

You know he's gay when they send a **** like anderson cooper to interview him.

[mrvolleyba11]

in order for it to be annulled they have to check "fraud". otherwise is is a divorce and sounds like they didn't want to call 8 month's total relationship (4 of it married)a marrage. that is how/why some of these celeb's have 5 & 6 marrages by the time they get close to 40!!! who wants to be on there 5th or 6th marrage when they are 35? ...has "damaged goods" or can't handle marrage (mental problems) written all over it!