Kenny Chesney lit up Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday (April 30) with his Here And Now Tour — and gave fans a moment they’ll never forget. In the middle of his high-energy set, the country superstar surprised the sold-out crowd by inviting Carly Pearce to join him on stage for a special duet.
“We kicked this tour off just last weekend in Tampa,” Kenny told the audience with a grin. “This is our second night, and it feels like we’re learning how to walk again — and it’s incredible.” But this duet wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision. As Kenny revealed, it was actually inspired by a request from someone very close to him: his mom, Karen.
“My mama’s here tonight from Knoxville,” Kenny shared. “She really wanted to meet Carly, so Carly came up on the bus. Then my mom asked, ‘Are you going to sing with Kenny tonight?’ And I thought… you know what? That’s probably a great idea.” Moments later, Kenny called out, “Carly, come on out!”
Barefoot and rocking a Kenny Chesney shirt, Carly Pearce walked onto the stage to a roar of cheers. Together, they performed “You and Tequila,” a song Kenny hasn’t played live in quite some time. Originally recorded with Grace Potter, the tune is a fan favorite from his 2010 album Hemingway’s Whiskey. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the crowd soaked up every second of it.
This moment wasn’t completely out of the blue. Carly had hinted at a possible collaboration during the CMT Music Awards red carpet, calling touring with Kenny a “dream come true” and sharing how much she hoped to learn from him. “I’ve loved Kenny forever,” she said. “He’s been a friend and mentor over the last year, and I feel like he’s the King of Country Touring.”
Carly is along for all 41 dates of Kenny’s Here And Now Tour, with Dan + Shay and Old Dominion also joining for the stadium stops. The tour launched April 23 in Tampa and will run through August 27, wrapping with back-to-back nights at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. But for Charlotte fans, that one night — with Kenny, Carly, and a little nudge from Mama Chesney — will be hard to top.
