Kenny Chesney: Small Town Boy Makes It Big, Really Big

Sept. 6, 2007 — -- Watch your back, 50 Cent.

He may hail from the Rocky Top state instead of the mean streets, and as a proud alumnus of East Tennessee State University, he's no college dropout.

But country megastar Kenny Chesney can hold his own -- not to mention holding claim to the highest debut of a No. 1 song on the Billboard chart for his latest single, "Don't Blink."

So while Fiddy and Kanye battle and predict sales numbers for the debuts of their own albums, they should be aware: Kenny's got an album coming, too. On Sept. 11, Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" will debut alongside Fiddy's "Curtis" and Kanye's "Graduation."

But Chesney's not buying into all the hype. "It's not a competition, who's No. 1?" wrote Chesney in an e-mail to "Good Morning America." "To me, I wanna connect, I wanna get out there and touch my fans in a way that makes them need this music."

So whatever happens, happens, though Chesney was quick to point out that he has already outsold 50 Cent once before.

"The Road & The Radio outsold 50 Cent's soundtrack and took No. 1, and that's not because of me, but because of the fans who take my songs and live them from the inside out!" he wrote.

If street credibility can be defined by 12 albums, a myriad of awards, No. 1 debuts and soldout concert tours grossing more than $76 million last year alone, then this Tennessee boy definitely has it.

Chesney has come a long way since his humble childhood in the mountains of Tennessee.

The entire population of his hometown of Lutrell, Tenn. -- all 915 of its residents -- wouldn't even come close to filling Madison Square Garden for one of his concerts. At the end of August, Chesney played two soldout shows at the New York City venue.

The singer is taking every accomplishment and accolade one step at a time.

When asked about his reaction to the news that his single "Don't Blink" had just broken the record for the No. 1 selling single of all time, he responded, "I thought -- don't laugh -- 'Unbelievable.'"

That response reflects Chesney's attitude toward his success. Growing up, he wrote in the e-mail to "Good Morning America," he never imagined his career would soar to such heights.

"Even when you think you're thinking about it, you can't imagine this.… But I gotta tell you, it's even better than what anyone's wildest dreams might be."

So what's behind Chesney's success?

"Looking off that stage every night, into all those faces that are smiling up at me, you realize how precious life and music and moments are to people," Chesney said via e-mail. "I think I got really aware that those little things become more, not less, important as you go. The response to 'Don't Blink' proves that."

With his love for the Caribbean and a home in the Smoky Mountains, Chesney seems to be an expert on enjoying life. So has he figured it out, the secret of life, that is?

"It's a simple secret," said Chesney. "Take it as it comes, enjoy every moment, don't make it worse by worrying, laugh a lot and listen to music that moves you."

Watch Kenny Chesney perform live on "Good Morning America" Thursday, Sept. 13!