Kenny Chesney Brings Out Kelsea Ballerini at SoFi Stadium Tour Stop

SoFi stadium became “No Shoes Nation” this weekend as Kenny Chesney’s Sun Goes Down Tour came to Los Angeles and treated some 70,000 in attendance to a night of both new and old country hits.

The doors opened, as promised, before the sun went down, with openers Uncle Kracker, Megan Moroney and Zac Brown Band (as well as a special guest). Uncle Kracker, who previously handled the turntables for Kid Rock’s live shows until scoring a hit song of his own, lended his raspy southern drawl and upbeat hits as a warmup act.

Moroney came next, entering the stage just before 6 p.m. with the title track from her debut album, Lucky . She sang all of her hits along with a cover of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69” which endeared her to the older audience members. Moroney’s young fanbase made for a family affair and a fuller venue. By the time she got to her breakout hit “Tennessee Orange,” the crowd was nearly as loud singing along with the chorus.

Zac Brown Band is county music as its purest, but chose to sing the Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” before closing with their popular “Chicken Fried,” a song praising freedom and, yes, fried chicken.

Kenny Chesney took the stage at 9 p.m. to the delight of an enthusiastic weekend crowd, but the screams went way up in volume when surprise guest Kelsea Ballerini popped up on stage for their 2020 collaboration, “Half My Hometown” (from Ballerini’s album kelsea ). One fan took to Instagram to say, “The way my jaw dropped when she came on stage.”

Chesney’s set included drinking anthems “Beer in Mexico” and “Keg in the Closet” along with fan favorites like “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and “You and Tequila,” performed with Ballerini. Moroney also made a cameo for “All the Pretty Girls.” Another highlight was “Drift Away” with Uncle Kracker, who made the cover a radio smash in 2003.

When all was said and sung, a “No Shoes Nation” flag spelled out the collective sentiment: “Who lives like we do? We do!”