Kenny Chesney started making big money with this George Strait hit

Kenny Chesney has covered several George Strait songs over the years, including “Amarillo by Morning” and “Ocean Front Property.” The Strait song you’ll hear him sing the most is “The Fireman,” which has a very special meaning for Kenny.

When Kenny was a college student in East Tennessee, he got a gig performing for tips at a tiny Mexican Restaurant called Chucky’s Trading Post. The stage was tiny, and Kenny was bombing on his first night.

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He explains, “I had my tip jar in front of me, and I hadn’t played anything yet that really made anybody look my way onstage. Then I played ‘The Fireman’ by George Strait. That’s when the tips started coming in to the tip jar. So, I learned pretty quickly what to do and what not to do. George has taught me a lot of lessons that way”

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Since then, Kenny has become one of the biggest country stars in history, and he had the honor of performing “The Fireman” at George’s big tour finale show in Dallas back in 2014. George and Kenny even recorded a hit duet called “Shiftwork,” too

Kenny says of George, “I’m so grateful for his friendship and grateful for so many things that George Strait has given to country music and given to me.”