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1998

NEWS - Chesney Survives Bus Accident

NEWS - ACM Awards 'Hat' Honors

NEWS - Chesney Sued For Breach Of Contract

NEWS - Chesney Survives Bus Accident
03/11/1998

(3/11/98) - BNA Recording artist Kenny Chesney and crew were shaken but unhurt after their Silver Eagle tour bus nearly plunged down an embankment Saturday morning.

  The accident occurred around 5am when Chesney's bus, en route to a show in Albany, Georgia, hydroplaned on a rain-slick Highway 59 in Alabama, did a 180, and then slammed into a concrete barrier.

  Chesney told local newspaper The Tennessean that he was very lucky. "It knocked me around the stateroom pretty good. If the bus would've went 20 feet to the left, we would've rolled down this embankment."

  Although no one was hurt, several amps were damaged in the accident. The broken-down bus and equipment damage caused Chesney to cancel the Albany show, but he was able to make a Sunday night concert in Rome, Georgia.

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NEWS - ACM Awards 'Hat' Honors
04/24/1998

(4/24/98) - Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood were among the big winners at the Academy Of Country Music Awards Wednesday night. The ACM is often viewed as a bit more progressive than the stodgier, Nashville-based Country Music Association.

Brooks was named Entertainer Of The Year, an award he received back in 1994, as well. Brooks is the first artist to regain the title after such a long lapse in time. Brooks was also honored with a Special Achievement Award for his Central Park Concert.

Other award winners include:

Best Female Vocalist -- Trisha Yearwood Best Male Vocalist -- George StraitBest Vocal Duo Or Group -- Brooks & DunnBest Vocal Event -- "It's Your Love," Tim McGraw & Faith HillBest New Male Vocalist -- Kenny ChesneyBest New Female Vocalist -- Lee Ann WomackBest New Duo Or Group -- The KinleysBest Album -- Carrying Your Love With Me, George StraitBest Single -- "It's Your Love," Tim McGraw & Faith HillBest Song -- "It's Your Love," Tim McGraw & Faith HillBest Pioneer Award -- Charlie Daniels

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NEWS - Chesney Sued For Breach Of Contract
10/06/1998
(10/6/98, 12 p.m. PDT) - It's a story so old it might as well be a country song: an eager wannabe-star signs a
bad contract, then years later hits it big and is sued for breach-of-contract by his former managers.

That appears to be the case with BNA recording artist Kenny Chesney, the 1998 Academy Of Country
Music's New Male Vocalist Of The Year. According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Chesney has been sued
by two Knoxville, Tenn. businessmen, who claim they signed Chesney to a management contract and
supported him back in the early '90s.

Dr. John Staley and Bob Thomas, part owners of Knoxville's minor league hockey team, said Chesney
signed a contract with their Paradise Management firm, giving them 20% of his music-related income. They
contend they supported Chesney while he was in college, and financed his trips to meet with record
company executives. They are suing for up to $500,000 in Knox County Circuit Court, claiming that Chesney
has not repaid them a penny.

Chesney scored a No. 1 country hit this year with "She's Got It All" from his current album, I Will Stand.

According to the newspaper, both parties are trying to negotiate a settlement. Chesney's management
company responded only that the suit is "old news" and did not have further comment.

Chesney might want to check with fellow BNA artist Mindy McCready and Epic country singer Ty
Herndon--both artists have found themselves in a similar situation. McCready eventually filed bankruptcy
to get out of her old contract, then successfully defended that action in court when her bankruptcy was
challenged.

Herndon took a more heart-breaking route: his mother mortgaged her house to buy out the contract, and lost
her house to the bank as a result. The lesson learned? "Don't sign anything until you have someone that
you trust look it over well, and thoroughly examine what this opportunity is opening up for you," said
Herndon.

This story has a happy ending: when Herndon hit it big, one of the first things he did was buy his mom a
new house.

-- Lisa Zhito, Nashville

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