Kenny Chesney Announces Title, Release Date for New Studio Album

Kenny Chesney has revealed the title and release date for his upcoming 15th studio album.

The country superstar announced Monday (June 30) that he will release 'The Big Revival' in September. The news comes on the same day Chesney released the video for the album's lead single, 'American Kids.'

Chesney took 2014 off from touring to pour himself into the new project.

“The whole point of taking the time to get to a really creative place was to have the room to look at not what we’d done, but where we wanted to go,” he says. “After all this time, if I can’t push myself and give the fans something that inspires them, that gets them pumped up, there’s no reason to just make a record to make a record.”

The singer worked with co-producer Buddy Cannon on the album, which features guest appearances from Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski and Grace Potter. He also worked with a new team on the mixes, pursuing a more aggressive tone for some tracks, while also trying to capture a broader sound palette on some of the acoustic tracks.

“I think in anyone’s life, there are times when you just need to shake things up, really push yourself and find the thrill of what you do again,” Chesney says. “I went to dirt floor church revivals with my grandma as a little kid, and that power is electric. Scared me to death, but it shows you what it means to be alive. I think bringing that sort of passion to how you live your life is everything -- and it’s so easy to lose touch with."

As with past albums, Chesney is pushing the boundaries of contemporary country music, while still celebrating the roots of the genre and its fan base.

“There’s so much more to country than trucks, creek beds and cut-offs,” he says with a laugh. “That stuff is fun, but when you look at how people really dig in and work, the things they face every day, you wanna remind ’em how hardcore they really are, show ’em that and also show ’em that you know there’s more to ’em than people might think.”

'The Big Revival' is slated for release on Sept. 23. Chesney plans to tour in support of the album in 2015.