BITTER SWEET, Ky. — For those of us who qualify for the AARP discount at Denny’s, we can attest to how quickly time goes by.

I remember what I was doing 20 years ago like it was yesterday. For most of those years, there has been a country superstar out there making one hit album after another, and he has just released another that is a sure bet to go to the top of the charts.

Kenny Chesney looks the same as he did nearly 20 years ago – something that I detest about him – but he sounds even better now than in 1997 when he won the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Vocalist of the Year award, something I really admire about him.

His newest album, The Big Revival is another example of how he stays current with his music yet timeless in his sound.

I had the privilege of covering a KC concert a few years back, and one thing I noticed is that he connects with the audience in a live setting the way he does with his recordings – something that I’m sure has helped him remain so popular.

This latest release contains song after song you can relate to, as has most of the music he has recorded through the years. KC has a way of taking you on a trip back in time to remember a special event or a lost love. He sings about the little things that become big memories later in life.

That’s why I like his music so much. One of my favorite songs on this release is called Beer Can Chicken; and if any of you have had it, you know how good it is. My point is, in the scheme of things, beer can chicken is a small detail that creates a big memory like my momma’s chicken and dumplings.

In fact, one line of that song says, “It’s the little things that make life worth living.” I think that sums up what Chesney’s music has been about, the little things that make life what it is, and what I hope it is for everyone is about being happy even with the occasional heartaches.

While it doesn’t seem like nearly two decades have passed since I first heard Chesney’s voice on the radio, I’m certainly glad he’s still on the airwaves. I just wish he’d age a little. I would feel a lot better about myself.

KC gets a big 99.9 percent A for The Big Revival.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.