East Tennessee native Kenny Chesney is many things. He’s a multi-platinum-selling stadium headliner. Chesney is a hit songwriter, a frequent duet partner and a multiple-time Entertainer of the Year.

This weekend Chesney added another line to his resume – Doctor.

The singer proudly stated on social media that his alma mater East Tennessee State University had given him an honorary doctorate.

“I am now a Doctor,” Chesney wrote. “Last night was so special. I would like to thank Dr. Brian Noland, the Board of Trustees, and the faculty and staff at East Tennessee State University for giving me an Honorary Doctorate. I was also able to reconnect with the man who taught me how to play guitar when I was in college, Dr. Jack Tottle, and also spend some time with the current @ETSU bluegrass band. It felt so great to be back.”

Chesney proudly posed with his degree beside members of the faculty and staff, as well as with Dr. Tottle and an array of musicians.

The singer returned to ETSU to help honor Tottle, who not only taught him to play guitar but also founded the university’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies Program. The program was celebrating its 40th Anniversary as part of homecoming weekend.

 “Jack Tottle taught me how to dream or inspired me to have the ability to dream enough to believe I could do this,” Chesney said in a statement. “He showed me that music could make connections beyond what we see, that it could communicate beyond language or location. He took us – the ETSU Bluegrass Band – to Russia as part of a cultural exchange and made that idea real.”

Chesney was a surprise guest over the weekend and President Brian Noland welcomed him to the stage, where he was met with excited shrieks from the audience. Noland and Provost Kimberly McCorkle awarded Chesney with an honorary doctorate of letters.

“Here at ETSU, we have issued a challenge to our faculty, staff and students to ‘go beyond.’ Mr. Chesney, soon-to-be Dr. Chesney, you exemplify that ideal. You have gone beyond genres, unifying people through your art and your work,” said President Noland. “You have gone beyond borders, sharing your amazing talent all over the world. And you have gone beyond yourself, using your voice to uplift others and give back to communities.”

 Chesney quipped that he would make his “road family” start calling him Dr. Chesney.

“To say I wouldn’t dream this is an understatement,” Chesney said. “I was spending most of my time at Chucky’s Trading Post, the Downhome, Quarterback’s BBQ and in the rooms at the music building, practicing my guitar. All I wanted was to get a song on the radio, write some things I could be proud of and get out on the road and have some fun.”

The platform is a different stage than the one Chesney spent the summer illuminating. He launched his first tour in four years at the end of April and played 40 stadiums with support from Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce by the time the tour concluded at the end of August.

“It’s a tsunami of love and energy sweeping right over us...,” Chesney told the crowd on the first weekend of the tour.