Country’s reigning king is also one of the genre’s most relaxed artists (if his lyrics are any indication). Once upon a time, Kenny Chesney was a struggling artist in Nashville, Tennessee, trying to make it big. Now the singer has managed to inject some twang into Jimmy Buffett’s “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” philosophy, churning out album after album about the cowboys-with-Coronas lifestyle.

Albums like 2004’s When the Sun Goes Down prove he has the musical chops to earn high praise and countless awards, while LPs such as 2007’s Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates celebrate the singer’s playful party image.

And country fans have embraced both his image and songs, making both his records and tours wild successes. For the past seven years, Chesney has toured the country in support of each year’s album, and 2009 is no different—this spring, he is launching the Sun City Carnival Tour 2009 to play hits from his latest record, Lucky Old Sun.

Kenny Chesney performs at The Joint April 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $95.50, $121 and $396.

By Caitlin McGarry