Kenny Chesney is mourning the loss of his sweet dog, Poncho. Chesney shares the heartbreaking news on social media, revealing that his beloved dog has passed away.
“Fifteen years ago a friend showed up at my doorstep and said, ‘Here Kenny, you need to learn to attach to something.’ That’s the day Poncho entered my life,” Chesney begins. “I’ve heard a dog enters your life when you need it most. And not just any dog, a specific dog just for you. To help you, to heal you, to show you how to accept unconditional love and give it back.
“Poncho did all that and more. He brought so much joy, energy, light, and fun into mine and Mary’s life,” the singer continues, referring to his former girlfriend, Mary Nolan. “He was a constant companion, very curious, had swagger, and [was] smarter than the average human.”
Chesney goes on to share that Poncho loved being on his boat and his bus, or backstage. Poncho also “loved the smell of the ocean and the islands like his dad and loved all the smells walking down the streets of Key West, Florida.”
In 2024, Chesney took Poncho out on stage with him at Soldier Field in Chicago, a memory that is forever etched in Chesney’s mind.
“One of his proudest moments was prancing on stage at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2024,” Chesney writes. “I thought it would scare him, but he loved feeling the energy of the crowd and refused to leave the stage. Instead of being timid, he was a show-off, a lot like me. That was a favorite moment in 15 years of favorite moments.”
What Happened to Kenny Chesney’s Dog, Poncho
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Chesney reveals that Poncho passed away early in the morning on October 28.
“We lost Poncho at 5:15 am this morning,” Chesney says. “And my heart is broken but yet so full cause I know he gave us all he had. We went down a lot of roads, lived a lot of life, and saw a lot of sunsets together.
“Poncho, my friend was right,” he concludes. “I needed you and I thank you. Our connection and our bond will live forever and I’m gonna miss you. Say hello to Da Ruba Girl for us. Goodbye Poncho. You were one heaven of a dog.”
What Kenny Chesney Says About Poncho
Last year, while speaking on Anderson Cooper’s All There Is on CNN, Chesney recalled the moment Poncho walked into his life.
“I was one of those guys that really didn’t have dogs in their lives, and I didn’t even think about it,” Chesney recalls (via Holler). “But my therapist, like, two days before Christmas, came to me. She knocked on the door, and I opened the door, and it’s her, and she has Poncho. And she goes, ‘You have to learn to attach to something!’…Next thing you know, Anderson, I was in an anxiety pit at PetSmart, not knowing what to get. So I just got like two of everything.”
Photo via Instagram / Kenny Chesney