Kenny Chesney's "Sun" to shine this fall

By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Kenny Chesney is targeting an October 14 release for his next album, "Lucky Old Sun," which has already spawned a hit in the form of "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven."

According to his Web site (kennychesney.com), the album will feature "largely self-penned" material and was inspired by a recording session on the title track with Willie Nelson a couple of years ago.

"I've come to a place in my life where there are songs that want to be written," Chesney said, "and that I really want to sing. We didn't think the record would be ready until next year, but the music we've been making is so inspiring. We've been on a real creative jag."

The new album follows 2007's "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," which has sold 1.4 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The single "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" debuted Thursday (August 21) at a career-best No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chesney is on tour through September 13 and will play the Farm Aid benefit concert outside Boston on September 20.

Reuters/Billboard