Kenny Chesney Shares Touching Connection to the Family of a Sandy Hook Victim

There’s a strong bond between Kenny Chesney and the parents of Grace McDonnell, a victim of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14, 2012.

In a new interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN’s All There Is podcast, Chesney recalled learning Grace was a fan of his music and forming a lasting connection with her mom Lynn and dad Chris.

Cooper, 58, recalled learning about the family’s love for Chesney’s work during an interview at their home.

“There was a photo of you on the refrigerator. And I said to Lynn, ‘Oh, do you like Kenny Chesney?’ And her eyes lit up and she was like, ‘Oh, you know, Grace loved Kenny Chesney. And in fact, the morning she was killed, we were standing at the school bus, waiting for the bus and we were singing Kenny Chesney’s song,'” he said.

The broadcast journalist quickly texted Chesney to let the country star know he “really touched this family’s life” as Grace “really loved” his music.

“You texted me right back and you said you wanted to reach out to Lynn. And I got in touch with Lynn, made sure it was okay. You called Lynn and you spoke for a long time,” explained Cooper.

Chesney said they’ve “become really good friends” since then. “I can’t tell you how many shows her and Chris have come to over the years,” he told Cooper. “And they actually brought me a piece of art that Grace painted and gave it to me. And I had it framed and it was in my bus for years.”

The “Don’t Blink” artist is currently promoting his new book, Heart Life Music, which happened to come out on Nov. 4, the late Grace’s birthday. “I was going back and forth with Lynn on email just a couple weeks ago,” said Chesney.

He continued, “And she goes, ‘I’m really excited to see that your book’s out, that it’s coming out.’ And I said, ‘Well, thank you.’ And she goes, ‘I think you need to know November 4th is Grace’s birthday.’ She would have been 20 years old today. And here we are talking. You’re the one that connected me with that family.”

“I get chills thinking about it,” added Chesney, noting that Grace would’ve turned 20 years old.

Over the years since the Sandy Hook shooting, where 20 first graders and six adults were killed, Chesney has looked to “be there” for Grace’s family. “There’s not a lot to say. I can’t imagine being a parent and that happening,” he said.

“She told me all these things about Grace that made me feel just incredible. I mean, how much she loved the music and how much their family, you know, went to the beach and listened to it,” explained Chesney. “I was a part of their household.”