Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ BNA Entertainment) - It's the kind of professionally nonsecular turn-out that only happens every once in a while. But when Mac McAnally was feted by the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers for his solely-self-penned No 1 duet 'Down The Road' with Kenny Chesney, the guests ran the gamut from Grammy-winning producer Tony Brown, booking agents, members of
Sawyer Brown and a collection of songwriters that would made it seem like backstage at the CMA Awards.
Written originally for McAnally's critically-lauded Simple Life project, 'Down The Road' had been a song that had caught the 4-consecutive and current Academy of Country Music and 4-time and reigning Country Music Association Entertainer's ear and remained in his heart for over a decade. With the Muscle Shoals-based singer/songwriter's 'Back Where I Come From' serving as a touchstone for Chesney's record-shattering live shows this century, the idea of bringing his friend and fellow artist in to sing on the song - thereby giving McAnally his first No 1 as a performer - was a natural outgrowth.
'The idea that Mac would sing this song with me was gift enough,' Chesney explained. 'He came up, went into the studio and it just came together… and it's amazing to hear a song this acoustic - really just us and a guitar - on country radio. There aren't too many hits like that these days, but then there aren't very many songs like the way Mac writes'em either!'
Obviously moved by Chesney's passion for his music, the singer/songwriter who is a touring member of the Coral Reefer Band was moved enough to give the Luttrell, Tennessean a gift to commemorate the moment. Not only did it almost bring the normally happy-go-lucky Chesney to tears, but the gift of the classic Martin guitar said everything to the country superstar about the things that matter in the music.
'Mac told me that he wrote 'Down The Road' and 'Back Where I Come From' on this guitar,' Chesney marvels. 'And a whole bunch of other songs over the years. It's the guitar that he's written on - and he wants me to have it. I know there are lots of songs in that guitar. Lots. For him to give it to me, as if the songs I've been fortunate enough to get to sing weren't enough, well, that may be one of the single greatest gifts anyone has ever given me.'
Though touring with Jimmy Buffett this summer, McAnally will not doubt pop up now and then on Chesney's Sun City Carnival when he can, to recreate the magic that the pair conjured-up in the studio. No one knows quite when or how, just that both men are committed.
'We haven't performed it live yet,' Chesney explains. 'But that's going to be resolved quickly. Hearing it on the radio wasn't enough for me… I wanna go out and sing it live with my friend.'
Lucky Old Sun, the introspective rumination on life beyond the spotlight, debuted at No 1 on Billboard's all genre Top 200. In addition to 'Down The Road,' it also contains the multiple week No 1 'Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven.'
