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.
July 11, 2021 @ 10:05 am
I hope he gets better soon! Too Cold At Home is my all-time favorite Mark Chesnutt song. I can hardly believe it was not a number one hit..
July 11, 2021 @ 10:29 am
And has a great video. That whole album…
For my favorite Mark Chestnutt song, I’m going with I’ll Think of Something. The outro guitar solo is killer and too rare in country music.
July 11, 2021 @ 2:23 pm
Oh that is a great song.. In my top three for sure..
July 11, 2021 @ 4:02 pm
“I’ll Think of Something” originally put out by Hank Jr., but I prefer Mark’s version a bit better though we are comparing two different times. “Rollin With The Flow” is another of my favorites. And strange, both my best-liked songs by him were covers. Regardless, he is fantastic.
July 11, 2021 @ 5:47 pm
Is Rollin’ with the Flow a re-make of the TG Sheppard / Charlie Rich song? I’ve never heard Chesnutt’s version.
July 11, 2021 @ 7:38 pm
Yes. It is a great remake.
July 11, 2021 @ 10:58 am
I agree, I think “Too Cold at Home” is an all time great, it stands up against anything.
July 11, 2021 @ 5:05 pm
Not just my favorite Chesnutt song, probably my favorite country song of all time. And I normally CAN’T STAND sports references in songs.
July 11, 2021 @ 6:19 pm
I remember during its run up the charts, they recorded and released a version for all the MLB markets – “just like the Piiiirates did.”
July 11, 2021 @ 11:26 am
“Too Cold At Home” was the major label debut (both single & album).
The single went to #1 in Canada.
“Too Cold…” peaked on #3 because “Friends In Low Places” (the Garth Brooks version) blocked the charts for many weeks.
“Friends…” was also an album track on…Too Cold At Home.
Other hits back in fall of 1990: “You Lie” (Reba McEntire), “Drinking Champagne” (George Strait), “Born To Be Blue” (The Judds), “Home” (Joe Diffie), “Holding A Good Hand” (Lee Greenwood) & “Come Next Monday” (K.T. Oslin…RiP).
(Older) Stars (many with their) last bigger hits: Tammy Wynette, Dan Seals, Earl Thomas Conley, Don Williams, Conway Twitty, The Bellamy Brothers, Exile, Anne Murray, Marie Osmond, Southern Pacific, Eddy Raven & Eddie Rabitt…(the bloodbarth of the late 80’s & early 90’s with new faces on the charts every week replacing the stars of the 70’s & 80’s).
Matraca Berg (the still active songwriter) had her first mid-pack hit with the great “The Things You Left Undone”…like writer Kevin Welch with “Praying For Rain”.
Marty Stuart had a hit with “Western Girls”. Tim Ryan (more or less active as a writer) had his first-&-only-not-so-big-hit with “Dance In Circles”.
Ricky Van Shelton was (still) a hot thing…like Vince Gill, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Kathy Mattea, Doug Stone, Shenandoah, Lorrie Morgan & Holly Dunn.
Kenny & Dolly had a Top 40 hit with “Love Is Strange”….Vern Gosdin did much better with “This Ain’t My First Rodeo”.
Garth Brooks dominated the album charts with No Fences…with the usual suspects of the time in the Top 10 (Georg Strait, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, Vince Gill…).
Also charting (but much lower): George Jones (You Oughta Be Here With Me), Shelby Lynne (Tough All Over), Baillie & The Boys (The Lights Of Home), Emmylou Harris (Duets) & The Statler Brothers (Music, Memories & You).
…get well soon Mark Chesnutt…
July 11, 2021 @ 2:03 pm
I LOVED Bubba Shot The Juke Box!
July 11, 2021 @ 2:17 pm
I used to look at Billboard at Tower Records, back in the early ’90s, and for some reason, I happen to remember this:
The reason that “Bubba Shot the Jukebox” stalled at #4 on the singles chart is that the song was TOO hot. The song was a track on Chesnutt’s second album, “Long Necks and Short Stories.” For some reason, Chesnutt’s label, MCA did not think the song was a single and would not release it. But it picked up buzz and some key country stations started playing it, unsolicited–enough for it to break into the chart. The label was stuck because Chesnutt’s third single off the album, “I’ll Think of Something,” was a hit in its own right. By the time MCA was able to acutally release “Bubba” as a single, it had already been on the chart for 13 weeks. Back then, the chart moved very fast and most singles hit their peak within 10 or 11 weeks on the chart. By the time “Bubba” made it to #4, the song was already played on the stations that had gotten on it early, so it couldn’t go any higher.
I’m sure “Bubba Shot the Jukebox” was a lot bigger a song to Chesnutt’s career than “I’ll Think of Something,” which made it all the way to #1 in 1993.
July 11, 2021 @ 3:03 pm
Yep, lots of big hits on his earlier efforts, and still cranking out excellent stuff recently, like “Tradition Lives”.
Hoping Mark mends quickly!
July 11, 2021 @ 3:41 pm
Get well, Mark! Love this guy’s work.
July 11, 2021 @ 4:54 pm
I was considering going to the Manhattan show. It has been rescheduled for September. Never seen Mark, so hope to get to see him then. Prayers for a quick recovery!
July 11, 2021 @ 5:54 pm
Not until ol country came to town is the best
July 12, 2021 @ 5:59 am
Old Country right? I think that his one his best too.
July 11, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Hope it’s a speedy recovery. On another note, any rumblings on a new album? He hasn’t had an album proper since “Tradition Lives” in 2016. The Beaumont Boys are due. Tracy Byrd hasn’t put one out since 2016 as well. The third of the Beaumont Boys, Clay Walker, has a new album coming out at the end of the month.
July 11, 2021 @ 6:16 pm
I haven’t heard anything, but doesn’t mean something isn’t brewing.
July 12, 2021 @ 1:13 am
Tradition Lives was an incredible album. I really hope he puts out another one before too long.
July 11, 2021 @ 6:21 pm
Dang, that’s got to be devastating. I know he was really anxious to get back out there. Hope he gets better soon!
As for my favorite Chesnutt songs, “Ol’ Country” is probably my all time favorite. I’m also partial to “Too Cold At Home,” “Brother Jukebox,” “Your Love Is A Miracle,” “Broken Promise Land,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “I’ll Think Of Something,” “It Wouldn’t Hurt To Have Wings,” “Let It Rain,” “Thank God For Believers,” “It’s Not Over (If I’m Not Over You),” and “Wherever You Are.”
Longnecks and Short Stories and Thank God For Believers are my favorite albums. Definitely one of my all time favorite artists, and I love that he’s still pretty much making the same kind of music that he was mostly known for in the 90’s. See his more recent Tradition Lives album for proof of that.
July 11, 2021 @ 11:43 pm
Virtually everything he ever recorded is my “favorite”.
July 12, 2021 @ 6:36 am
I was wondering about Mark the other day !!!! He is a great one !!!!
July 12, 2021 @ 8:32 am
Just another George Strait wanna be
July 13, 2021 @ 8:26 am
Or maybe George’s popularity made it possible for all the guys just like him from Texas to gain an audience and achieve success. It’s called culture and it’s always been different here versus wherever the hell you are. George was just our best and first of many to represent us.
July 12, 2021 @ 9:39 am
OF cousre. Every time a great show comes to my shithole town, it gets cancelled. Hell, Travis Tritt and Charlie Daniels got cancelled day of show due to rain. Then Charlie died a week or two later.I can’t see a good show here it seems.
July 12, 2021 @ 11:48 am
I can tell you why he might not get the recognition he deserves…back in his heyday I went to one of his shows at a state fair. He was a jerk to the audience, really stuck on himself. He was not happy about being there and made no bones to hide it. I loved his songs but he, himself turned me off.
July 12, 2021 @ 1:32 pm
Hi, I just wanted to post a comment hopefully it will get to Mark Chesnutt…
Dear Mark Chesnutt,
“It Sure is Monday”… I read somewhere that back problems come from carrying a heavy load and from not feeling supported. I just wanted to say you are Loved, Appreciated and Supported! I understand the heavy load you have been carrying on your back trying to continue on your path, even when you don’t seem to be supported. Your voice, your songs and your spirituality it’s appreciated by those who can see and feel the true essence. Many get inspired by your voice, your musical style and your message. You also have Casey who follows your steps and not only has an awesome voice but wonderful ideals and beliefs you have inspired in him. I appreciate Casey for his service with the Marines and for following his heart thru music like you do. We are full of Greatness, just like our God created us. I believe “it is (Not) a little too late” but just the right time to do a lot of resting, taking care of yourself and loving yourself. Remember “Love is a Miracle”… “Is Spiritual “it might be all you need and you could be retaking your tour quicker than you think. You are not alone!
Receive all the love and energy to recuperate soon, believe in your strength! Many are waiting to be inspired by you!
July 12, 2021 @ 7:22 pm
I saw him many years ago in Baltimore. He was fantastic. Though he had a head cold he pushed through and played a long show. He joked that with his cold he sounded like Willie Nelson and gave us a demo which was spot on. This guy is one of the greats. Get well Mark.
July 12, 2021 @ 8:02 pm
I was all set to hear Mark Chestnut in August at the town and country days in New Martinsville wv till I saw where he hurt his back and had to cancell his show Mark get better I love your songs and your singing. Good luck with your recovery
July 12, 2021 @ 8:44 pm
I just love “Too Cold at Home”!!! Great song and he is a home town boy – it was video’d at Pine Tree Lodge. Hope you feel better soon Mark!!!
July 13, 2021 @ 9:00 am
Mark, along with Alan Jackson, are two of my all-time favorite 90s country artists. I love how they keep making the music they want to make without buckling and giving in to modern trends. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.
July 17, 2021 @ 1:26 am
So happy at least you – a country rots artist is still sticking to his roots and not falling into any of this bullshit ‘pop’ that they’re trying to pass off as country. Thank you Mark!
February 19, 2022 @ 12:08 pm
Saw him at gem theater alhoun ga Great show