Kenny Chesney explains why he keeps politics offstage

Charlie Carballo, USA TODAY Tue, June 23, 2026 at 11:58 PM UTC

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Kenny Chesney performs during the 59th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Politics won't be played on Kenny Chesney's stage.

The country star said on the June 22 episode of Bill Maher's Club Random podcast that he doesn't believe celebrities should use their platforms to tell fans how to vote or think.

"I've just never felt like it was my place," Chesney said. "There's a certain ego, I think, that lives in there and a certain box inside your head and your soul that you have to check, for some reason, to think that you can make a difference."

The conversation turned to fellow musician Bruce Springsteen, who has often spoken publicly about his political views.

"I think they've actually studied this: when celebrities talk, I think it has the opposite effect," Maher said.

"I've never saw it to be my place to use my stage or platform, no matter where I'm playing, to tell people how to think or how to vote," Chesney reiterated. "They hear that. They get that everywhere else – on every device, every network. They're there as an escape from all that stuff."

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The singer also admitted that he wanted to avoid political topics during a previous appearance on Maher's show. "I just refuse to do it," Chesney said. "I was very thankful when I came on your show in November that you knew I didn't want to talk about that."

Chesney is currently promoting his Las Vegas Sphere residency, which runs through July 11.

Springsteen, meanwhile, has continued to embrace political and social activism. The rock icon was honored with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award during the Tribeca Festival on June 13.

Asked during a panel discussion whether he would ever consider running for political office, Springsteen responded, "I don't know."

"There's the classic, 'Well, which side are you on?'" he said. "You do have to make your stand and follow your beliefs, and have faith that they will be understandable by your fellow citizens. You have to believe that America is an argument and that finding some sort of common ground is possible. The leaders, at the moment, I'm not sure I see anybody who has the capacity to come out and speak to all the people."

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