Cheers to Kenny Chesney‘s first night of his Live at Sphere Las Vegas residency! The East Tennessee native celebrated his opening night on Thursday, May 22, sharing a clip of his performance on social media.

In the video, Chesney is performing “Beer in Mexico,” one of Chesney’s early hits. The song was released in 2007, as the final single from his fourth studio album, The Road and the Radio, out in 2005. The clip also shows Chesney’s elaborate stage, part of what he promised would make it an unforgettable experience for his fans.

“You can’t truly imagine it,” Chesney hinted ahead of opening night. “When people say you have to experience it to really understand, they aren’t kidding. Even with all the simulators, the special editing facilities, the way we have approached rehearsals, it wasn’t until we got inside Sphere that me, the band, the crew and all our road family truly got it. It is a whole other world – and I can’t wait for the people who’ve loved this music so intensely to experience this.

“Experience, because it’s so much more than just seeing a concert,” he added.

 

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Chesney made sure to give his No Shoes Nation fan club the same experience as if he were performing at a stadium, even though everything is indoors in Las Vegas.

“Vegas is too hot to tailgate, so we figured we’d bring as much of it indoors as we can,” Chesney explained. “I hear everybody tailgating way more than they know… So many times, I want to just jump on a gator and come out there for the party. To not have that energy? I think our shows have always started when the parking lot opens, so consider this your chance.

“I’ve been in my warehouse, my journals and my hard drives working on Heart*Life*Music, and I’ve found a lot of things that were too cool to leave at home,” he continued. “To be in one place, I can create a world where many of the pictures, the pieces of the puzzle, even the American Kids bus could be part of what we give you to say, ‘Thanks for being part of this’ before you come to the show.”

As part of the entire experience of Live at Sphere, Chesney created Guitars, Tiki Bars and a Whole Lotta Love, a two-story space at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, which includes pictures, passes, license plates, handwritten lyrics, instruments and more, all from Chesney’s more than two decades of selling out stadiums on his tours. The new space also has a beach bar, called Spread the Love, where fans can gather for a drink, with or without alcohol, and connect with other fans ahead of Chesney’s show.

Chesney will also become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year. His  Heart*Life*Music book will be released on November 4. It is currently available for preorder here. Find all of Chesney’s music and upcoming shows at KennyChesney.com.

Photo Credit: Jill Trunnell