Kenny Chesney Talks Sexism in Country Music: Male Singers ''Objectify the Hell'' Out of Women

Country crooner released his 16th studio album

By Lily Harrison Nov 14, 2014 6:36 PMTags
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It's been 20 years since Kenny Chesney released his very first album, and now in his latest interview with Billboard, he's more honest about the country scene than ever.

The crooner, whose 16th studio album The Big Revival debuted at the top spot on the country albums chart, is opening up to the magazine about the double standard he's seen in songwriting in particular.

"Over the last several years, it seems like anytime anybody sings about a woman, she's in cutoff jeans, drinking and on a tailgate—they objectify the hell out of them," he told the mag. "Twenty years ago, I might have written a song like that—I probably did. But I'm at a point where I want to say something different about women."

Chesney also semi-slammed other musicians who have made their foray into reality television shows, ahem, like American Idol.

"I'm not knocking anybody that does it, but I just don't ever see myself doing it," he explained. "Can you imagine Tom Petty being a judge on American Idol?"

But you know, famous last words, right?

He also shared that his one-time sanctuary, several homes on the Virgin Islands, have ceased being the place he goes to seek solace.

"It's harder now, because everybody is paparazzi," Chesney he explained after revealing that he sold a few homes but still owns one.

He added that "iPhones" are the reason the Virgin Islands are no longer "the place of peace they used to be for me."

"It's still rejuvenating—I just have to walk a little more carefully. That's why God made boats."