Next Big Thing: “You Had To Be There” by Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney

Megan Moroney and Kenny Chesney’s new collaboration, “You Had To Be There,” is this week’s Next Big Thing pick on The Big Time Saturday Night. The song was officially released on May 9, 2025, and highlights themes of nostalgia, friendship, and the live music experience, reflecting on Moroney’s journey from fan to tourmate alongside Chesney on the Sun Goes Down Tour.

The track was written by Moroney as a Christmas gift for Chesney in December 2024. She first attended Chesney’s Atlanta concert in 2018, making this collaboration a full-circle moment. When releasing the song, Moroney shared how meaningful the project was, saying, “As y’all know, I write about things that are important to me & the Sun Goes Down Tour + becoming friends with kenny chesney last summer was undoubtedly a highlight of my career & my life.”

The song opens with vivid lyrics recalling Moroney and her friends preparing for the 2018 concert:
“Five girls in the mirror putting make-up on / There’s boys downstairs playing drinking songs / Curled up round a hand-me-down guitar singing oh-oh-oh / Brand new boots that we’re ‘bout to break in / Bought some nosebleed seats / Summer money well-spent / Parking lot, take a shot, steal a kiss / And we’re ready to go.”

As the track progresses, Moroney reflects on her transition from fan to performer, singing, “Seven years later got a different point of view / Got a soundcheck in ten and my own dressing room / Going round the world with the King of No Shoes singing, oh-oh-oh.” Chesney’s contribution includes the line, “Keep your heart on your sleeve and your chin held high / Baby, hold on tight and don’t let go.”

The chorus captures the live music atmosphere:
“I see the lights / I hear the band / Feels like the whole world’s in our hands / Soakin’ it up / Breathin’ it in / One day we’ll say, ‘Remember when?’ / We were so alive / I swear that night / There was magic in the air / You had to be there.”

Leading up to the release, Moroney posted a handwritten version of the lyrics on social media. Chesney expressed his appreciation, saying, “What an amazing way to start 2025. Megan gave me the gift of music with a song she wrote about our tour together!! Nobody has ever written a song for me before. What a gift … Love you Megan!”

In a video interview from Saint John, US Virgin Islands, Moroney explained that she brought the song as Chesney’s Christmas gift during their trip in January 2025. Chesney shared that after first hearing the song at a bar, they played it multiple times, calling it a “true postcard” of their shared experiences on tour.

As the track gains popularity, “You Had To Be There” stands as a reflection of Moroney’s journey and the strong bond between the two artists.