Kenny Chesney is the same guy he was growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, albeit with a lot of awards, a lot of accolades, and a lot more money. But as the son of a hairdresser, who was just 19 years old when she had him, Chesney says he is still very much the same person he was as a child and teenager in East Tennessee.

“I think that when you travel as much as we’ve traveled and you have all these life experiences on the road for all these years, you become more complicated because you see a lot of things,” Chesney says. “But then again, I think that for me and the way I grew up, I’m very simple all at the same time.”

Chesney has already broken many attendance records, thanks to his loyal No Shoes Nations, who fill stadiums every time he performs. But he could soon break his own record, on his current  Sun Goes Down Tour, when he performs on June 1 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The venue is close to the Allegheny River, where boaters have already been staking claim near the venue to hear Chesney’s concert, adding potentially more concertgoers than ever before.

“The first time I saw the pictures, I was blown away,” Chesney admits. “Realizing that all these people have come together, tied up their boats in groups and are having a big time on the river. Pittsburgh and all the people who come from the surrounding states have so much heart, I’m not surprised – but it’s still something to see.”

Still, the 56-year-old’s goal for that show is the same as for all of his other shows, which is safety first, for everyone.

“I just want people to be safe,” Chesney urges. “If they wanna float to the songs, sleep on their boat, I’ve done it myself a time or two. I’ve been told a lot of boaters either have tickets and are tailgating on the water, or they’re pre-gaming with friends at their boat, then the ones who couldn’t get tickets can be there waiting after the show. Either way, I love people living the songs.”

Very few artists, in any genre, have achieved what Chesney has done, a feat that is not lost on him. At a time in his career when Chesney could easily coast and dial it in, the country music hitmaker says his unprecedented success actually makes him want to work more, not less.

“If you’re lucky enough as an artist to get to a place in your life where you’re actually competing with yourself, then that’s a pretty good spot to be in,” Chesney tells CBS News. “You’re pretty lucky.”

Chesney currently has a Top 5 hit with “Take Her Home,” from BORN. He is joined on the road by Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker, all serving as his opening acts. The tour will conclude with three shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on August 23, 24 and 25. Find all of Chesney’s music and tour dates at KennyChesney.com.