Kenny Chesney agrees with TIME Magazine's selection of Taylor Swift as its 2023 Person of the Year. Chesney explained why in the caption of a sweet Instagram post that includes a pair of throwback photographs from early in Swift's career.
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"Taylor, I knew looking in your eyes that first time on stage with us, you had 'it'," Chesney wrote on Wednesday (Dec. 6). "The hunger, that something special... A gift not everyone has to connect. It's been awesome watching you shine! Congratulations on being [TIME's] Person of the Year.
"I'm glad TIME sees what I've always loved about your music, your art and you as a human being," he continued. "I'm so proud of you and I love you."
Swift was named TIME Magazine's Person of the Year on Wednesday. She's the first entertainer to win the honor, which dates back to 1927 and was called Man of the Year or Woman of the Year until 1999.
The special issue's cover story is the first in-depth interview feature about Swift in almost four years.
In the feature, she gets candid about her relationship with Travis Kelce, discusses her grueling prep for the Eras Tour and even poses with her famous cat. Swift opens up about the often public ups and downs of her life and career, while settling on 2023 as her finest hour both personally and professionally.
"This is the proudest and happiest I've ever felt, and the most creatively fulfilled and free I've ever been," Swift said.
Then, she seemingly spoke directly to the skeptics who question her decisions and the motives behind them: "We can convolute it all we want, or try to overcomplicate it, but there's only one question: Are you not entertained?"
