Kenny Chesney is the Patriots’ “Keeper of the Light”
Patriots
While he may not be Tom Brady, Chesney has a special connection to Gillette Stadium.
Kenny Chesney has headlined concerts at Gillette Stadium more than any other singer. Matthew J. Lee/Globe team
Keeping up with everything Tom Brady does must be a tough position, but the Patriots managed to get a notable celebrity to be the “Keeper of the Light.”
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney served as the second “Light Keeper” at Gillette Stadium, ringing the bell before the Patriots took the field for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
Although Chesney obviously never played for the Patriots, he actually has a special connection to Gillette Stadium. He has headlined the most concerts at the venue since it opened in 2002, performing 21 shows there. He will soon be 22 years old, as he will perform again at Gillette Stadium on September 27.
Chesney has also been close to the Patriots organization over the years. The country singer attended a handful of Patriots training camp practices and repeatedly sat in team owner Robert Kraft’s dressing room for games. One such instance occurred during one of the greatest wins in Patriots history, sitting next to Kraft as they watched New England come back from a 28-3 deficit to win Super Bowl LI.
Chesney, an East Tennessee native, has also expressed his appreciation for the city of Boston in the past.
“The heart,” Chesney said in an interview with Haute Living about why he loves Boston so much. “Passionate people who really care, who are really involved. Everyone I’ve met works hard, takes real pride in what they do, and plays with the same kind of passion. From the Kraft family to the concessions people at the shows: I’ve met so many really nice people. It sounds a lot like my home country, and that’s saying something.
The Patriots donned the old red “Pat Patriot” jerseys for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Chesney, of course, has never played in these jerseys, but he has tried the helmet before.
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