Kenny Honors Policeman Shot 7 Times
Kenny came into Philadelphias Lincoln Financial Stadium raring to make-up for what he perceived as a less than 100% performance last year. But the news that 25-year old police officer Christopher Dorman, after having been shot 7-times in the leg, chest and stomach, gave him a shout out of Kenny Chesney, dont forget about me fired the East Tennessee songwriter/entertainer up to a whole other other level.
Kenny paused after I Go Back, and said to the crowd, I didnt know where in the show I was going to do this... But theres a line in this song that says, When I hear, Only the good die young, it still stops me in my tracks..., and I heard that an officer here in Philadelphia who was shot seven times last night from his hospital bed, he made a video that said, Kenny, dont forget about me. Well, Christopher Dorman, we wont forget you...
The crowd, which had begun cheering as they realized what Kenny was talking about, roared when he invoked the policemans name. For them, the story was personal and the fact that Kenny knew and lifted this moment to honor the police officer prompted an insane response. If the internet blew up at what seemed to be his comment suggesting the officer had passed, he finished the song he was singing, the plaintive Anything But Mine, about yearning for a summer love past, and offered, Christopher Dorman, wherever you are, this is for you...
I was so caught up in the moment, Kenny said after the full-tilt set, I think the emotions got the best of me and I wasnt as clear as I couldve been. The idea that a hero like that, with seven bullets in him, would even think about me... I heard about it right before I hit the stage, and it stopped me in my tracks. Someone whose life was on the line, and after all that bravery? As anyone in the stadium knows, I kept pausing, trying to collect my thoughts.
There are moments that it feels so damn good to be alive, Kenny said, Tonight in Philadelphia was absolutely one of them. To honor a policeman who survived something so horrific, to be rocked so hard by all those people, to see a city so alive, thats everything about why we do this! To Philadelphia, you have a lot of heart and it was an honor to rock with you tonight and honor one of your own!