Country music star turned sports documentarian Kenny Chesney is the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s Tennessean of the Year.
Initially shown on ESPN, Chesney’s Boys of Fall documentary examines the positive effects of playing football, and Chesney donated 10,000 DVD copies of the film to high schools and coaches of high school football teams. On Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. Central, ESPN will also air Chesney’s The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story, a documentary exploring the legend and legacy of the Southeastern Conference’s first African American starting quarterback.
The Tennessean of the year designation, first awarded by the Hall of Fame in 1982, “honors an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to our society through sports or other methods, demonstrating strong character and high profile leadership,” Tennessee Sports Hall president Bill Emendorfer said.
Chesney isn’t the only music figure to have been so honored: Barbara Mandrell won the prize in 1982, Vince Gill won in 1995 and Hank Williams Jr. was chosen in 2007.
The 2011 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Awards Banquet is set for Feb. 11 in the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville. Tickets are $125, and reservations may be made through Lynn Powell Toy at the Hall of Fame: 615-242-4750 or lpowell@tshf.net.