Mark Chesnutt Breaks His Back Saving Country, Needs Surgery

Was just thinking about ol’ Mark Chesnutt earlier this week, and how he’s been breaking his back to hold a hard line for traditional country for over 30 years now, and never seems to get enough mention or credit for the body of work he put forth. He was responsible for eight #1 songs in his heyday, which isn’t a bad run at all, but the songs that missed the top mark might be the most surprising.

“Too Cold At Home” only made it to #3? “Bubba Shot The Jukebox” stalled at #4? “Blame It On Texas” skidded out at #5? These are all-time country music classics, and they weren’t even Mark Chesnutt’s top songs. That speaks to just how important he was to country in the early and mid 90’s. Perhaps he’s just wasn’t as much into self-promotion as many of the other artists from the 90’s era.

He’s also been out there for years touring behind his hits, playing some 100 dates a year before the pandemic, putting traditional country on his back and helping to keep it alive. And wouldn’t you know it, just as things were opening back up and Chesnutt was getting back out there on the road, his back gives out. Announced on Wednesday (7-7), he’s had to cancel his current tour for emergency surgery to address severe back pain he’s been fighting through for years, and it’s a procedure that will require a ten week recovery.

“I’ve been suffering with this for a very long time, and postponed as long as I could,” Chesnutt says. “When the doctor says: ‘you have no choice,’ you have no choice! I hate to get off the road, just as the venues opened back up. I was really looking forward to this year! I appreciate the support and understanding from my fans, and I‘ll see you all real soon.”

Bummer. His booking agent William Morris is looking to reschedule everything, and folks are being told to contact the venue to figure out what to do for rescheduling or refunds. Hopefully the 10 week recovery is all it takes, and the Beaumont, Texas native can get back out there sooner than later.

Meanwhile if you like Mark Chesnutt, make sure you check out what his son Casey Chesnutt is doing.

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Cancelled dates below.

07/11/21 – Cotton Country Club – Granger, TX
07/15/21 – Hard Rock Casino – Sioux City, IA
07/16/21 – RC McGraw’s – Manhatten, KS
07/17/21 – Crawford County Fair – Cuba, MO
07/21/21 – Cowlitz County Fair – Longview, WA
07/23/21 – Lassen County Fair – Susanville, CA 
07/30/21 – Canyon County Fair – Caldwell, ID
07/31/21 – Butte Depot – Butte, MT
08/05/21 – Carroll County Fairgrounds – Westminster, MD
08/06/21 – Deerassic Classic – Cambridge, OH
08/07/21 – Jergels Rhythm Grill – Warrendale, PA
08/12/21 – Beacon Theater – Hopewell, VA
08/13/21 – Winston-Salem Fairgrounds – Winston-Salem, NC
08/14/21 – Town & Country Days – New Martinsville, WV
08/16/21 – Erie County Fairgrounds – Hamburg, NY
08/21/21 – Sutherland Rodeo Arena – Sutherland, NE
08/26/21 – Crawford County Fair – Gays Mills, WI
08/27/21 – Marquette Ojibwa Casino – Marquette, MI
08/28/21 – Marquette Ojibwa Casino – Marquette, MI
09/02/21 – Boot Barn Hall – Colorado Springs, CO
09/03/21 – Seven Peaks Music Festival – Buena Vista, CO
09/05/21 – Rolling Hills Casino – Corning, CA
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