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Kenny Chesneys’ tribute to Jimmy Buffett

Kenny Chesney Honors Late Dear Friend Jimmy Buffett With Heartfelt Tribute Performance: “Sail On Sailor”

Kenny Chesney honored his late dear friend Jimmy Buffett with a poignant tribute on Saturday morning (Sept. 2), just hours after the “Margaritaville” singer’s passing.

The country superstar took to social media to pay homage to his longtime friend with a special Oceanside performance in Key West, Florida.

“So goodbye Jimmy. Thanks for your friendship and the songs I will carry in my heart forever. Sail On Sailor 🦜🌴🌊,” Chesney captioned the somber clip, which features him performing a Jimmy Buffett classic.

48 thoughts on “Kenny Chesneys’ tribute to Jimmy Buffett”

  1. Thanks for this fine tribute , Kenny. First Lightfoot and now Jimmy gone but never forgotten. I d like to see you do a tribute album of JB’s songs. Best wishes…

      1. I know the feeling. I dedicate his own lyric back to this great man.

        He’s somewhere on the ocean now
        A place he outta be
        With one hand on the starboard rail
        He’s wavin’ back at me

        Rest well my friend.

      2. Me too. I’ve been teary all morning.

        The passing of most celebs is little more than a curiosity, an event that gives us, at most, a moment of pause. But Jimmy Buffett was different, and his music meant something to me on a most personal level.
        Back in 1991, my career and my personal live were falling apart at the seams. I was out of work, out of money and out of friends. Listening to “Songs You Know by Heart” gave me a reason to smile at a time when it was either laugh or go insane. Those treasured songs lifted me from the well of despair.

        Bays con Dios, mi amigo.

        1. He touched me at a time in the valley and I can sense what you mean. He taught me not to take myself so seriously and each day is an opportunity to turn things around. I miss him dearly.

      3. Three hours crying now. Honestly, don’t know or care when it will stop. Rest in peace, Jimmy!
        Fan since 1974,
        Kimi Jo

      4. Three hours crying now. Honestly, don’t know or care when it will stop. Rest in peace, Jimmy!
        Fan since 1974,
        Kimi Jo

        1. my girlfriend from Alabama was Kimberly Pierce and she knew even word of every song he sang. I am at the beach and I can’t help thinking of her singing his songs. People called her Kimmie,too

    2. Kenny! The torch is now in your hands to continue our beach music that he started years ago! Gulf Shores will miss Jimmy.

  2. Jimmy’s music has helped me through some troubling times. I have, and will keep on, turning to his music whenever I’m in need of good vibes.

  3. Thank you, Kenny for that touching tribute to JB. His music will forever make me smile and be in my heart.

    1. He was my Hero. I first heard a Jimmy Buffett song when I was twenty by sheer chance—as all great things happen. His music, his tales and his guidance have been with me ever since then. A favourite artist, a drinking buddy, a savvy novelist, a compass brother that always helped me find safe harbour.

      Every parrothead’s feather turned black on this date. Capt’n Jim, you shall be missed.
      .

  5. Thank you Kenny, for this tribute. Fitting the way you sang it sadness in your voice. Sadness all of us feel today.

  10. Thank you Kenny!
    It’s like we were all there…just like the “Sailor Man” wanted it…sitting with family, listening to music and the ocean. Brought tears to my eyes when I read the news, and then your rendition brought on the waterfall!

  11. Thank you , Kenny for this beautiful tribute. I love Jimmy’s music & yours as well. So much meaning, if you just look for it. Sail on, Jimmy. You will be missed!

  12. Bless you. He made my world a better place with him in it.
    Love, laugh and listen to Jimmy. God bless Sail on. 💔

  14. Sorry Kenny 🥲, as his music will live on in all of us. That was a beautiful tribute to your friend. 🙏

  18. Kenny , thank you for honoring Jimmy. That is my favorite J B song. Many tears and sadness for so many of us. Thank you for making it a little more peaceful .

  19. I fell in love with Jimmy in 1972. I can’t even try to thank you for singing out all the trials and fun and tears that life brings. I have wished to see you sitting at a bar in one of your establishments with an empty barstool right next to you and I got the privilege to sit next to you and talk, tell stories, and laugh. I will miss you terribly, but thank you God we have alot of your soul in the music you left for us all. From an avid Parrothead, rest in peace my friend

  20. A beautiful heartfelt tribute Kenny. I love your music and definitely would like to see you do more JB songs. We are heartbroken 💔 😢

  21. He was my Hero. I first heard a Jimmy Buffett song when I was twenty by sheer chance—as all great things happen. His music, his tales and his guidance have been with me ever since then. A favourite artist, a drinking buddy, a savvy novelist, a compass brother that always helped me find safe harbour.

    Every parrothead’s feather turned black on this date. Capt’n Jim, you shall be missed.
    .

  22. I told my kids this morning that Jimmy Buffett passed away last night. My son’s response was at least we still have Kenny.

  23. I know the feeling. I dedicate his own lyric back to this great man.

    He’s somewhere on the ocean now
    A place he outta be
    With one hand on the starboard rail
    He’s wavin’ back at me

    Rest well my friend.

  25. Beautiful and touching We are all going to miss Jimmy.
    Thanks Kenny for letting us feel this more this morning.
    Made for a waterfall moment that is for sure.
    RIP Jimmy. My only regret is I wish I saw you more than I did.

  26. How fitting that you where in Key West at the time of Jimmy’s death. Your tribute brought tears to my eyes. RIP Jimmy. Jimmy and Kenny’s music will be etched on our hearts forever.

  27. The news has hit me harder than any other artist in my lifetime. I can’t seem to move, just frozen in my chair shocked with tears remembering all the concerts, meet & greets, flashing Jimmy & Cameramen our tattooed breasts in the preshow tailgates and so many fun, crazy moments at Jimmy’s concerts. Was never a thought in my mind that he would leave us so soon. Absolutely gutted
    💔💔

    Thank you Kenny for this. Beautifully done in a very Jimmy setting. ❤️

  28. Thank you Kenny. Beautiful
    Jimmy, We love you
    Jimmy, We will miss you
    Rest in peace, Jimmy and thank you for giving me my nautical compass to navigate the crazy seas of life and help me search for my one particular harbour.

  29. Rest in Peace Jimmy Buffet. You will be missed. A better pirate the world has never known. You stole our hearts and minds and brought them to relaxation with your music.

  30. Thank you for your tribute to our beloved Jimmy Buffett. His music has nurtured me through good times and bad. But most of all, Jimmy and his music made my heart smile. Today, my heart weeps as all of us parrot heads struggle to find the words to express how much Jimmy and his music mean to each of us. Farewell Jimmy, I am so glad that I got to “know” you through your music. Today, my heart weeps. Sail on Jimmy, and watch out for those pop-tarts!

  31. Jimmy had a song for every mood and occasion in life. I don’t know of any other artist who could say that. Life is just a bit less fun now.

  32. Thanks Kenny I appreciate that, you now have to carry the torch, at 62 it’s been Jimmy thru my life in times I just needed to hear his voice, you are the only one now that can continue our love of this style music, my wife who is battling stage 4 cancer turned me on to you 20 years ago, been to several of your concerts, but we just need this music to make life a little more tolerable. Carry on Kenny, going to miss you Jimmy more than you will ever know, Jay in South Alabama.

  33. I have been a Buffet fan for over 50 years,I am beyond any words.My heart is broken,my life is now changed forever.I had one thing left on my bucket list,that was to take my son and grandson to see Buffet,all 3 generations. Sail on Jimmy,I hope you found your one particular harbor. God bless Jimmy and his family.

  34. I have been a Buffett fan for over 50 years,I am beyond any words.My heart is broken,my life is now changed forever.I had one thing left on my bucket list,that was to take my son and grandson to see Buffett,all 3 generations. Sail on Jimmy,I hope you found your one particular harbor. God bless Jimmy and his family.

  35. Beautifully done – thank you Kenny – thank you Jimmy for all the years of transporting us to a happy place – finsupforever parrotheads

  36. Forget about your troubles
    Forget about your past
    When Jimmy’s songs were playin’
    A smile would come so fast
    You could see the ship a sailin’
    When Jimmy sang his song
    You could taste the margarita
    And nothing could go wrong
    If Jimmy was still here he’d say
    “Don’t cry for me too long”.

    RIP Jimmy. Sail on.

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