In a tribute to Rodriguez on Instagram Monday night, the country singer revealed the heartbreaking news that his longtime friend “and others were killed today in a helicopter crash in St. Thomas.”
“She was a dear friend to me and to our island community. I have been flying with Maria for over 15 years and weshared a lot of laughs and a lot of lifetogether,” wrote Chesney, 52, alongside a slideshow of photos featuring the pair together and smiley solo shots of Rodriguez frolicking on the beach and lounging on a wicker chair.
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Kenny Chesney and Maria Rodriguez.Kenny Chesney Instagram
Maria Rodriguez.Kenny Chesney Instagram
“It’s fair to say I won’t ever be able to go to the Virgin Islands again without feeling the loss of her. She was such a huge partof my island life,” Chesney went on.
The Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency confirmed that four people had died in the crash, which occurred about 3:14 p.m. local time in the Botany Bay area of St. Thomas, according toABC News.
Maria Rodriguez and Kenny Chesney.Kenny Chesney Instagram
RELATED VIDEO: Kenny Chesney Recalls the Terrifying Moment He Lost Contact with Friends Sheltered in His V.I. Home During Hurricane Irma
Chesney has always had asoft spot for the Caribbean, which is the subject of many of his songs and the place where he does much of his songwriting. He was writing hisSong for the Saintsalbum’s title track whenHurricane Irmahit the islands in 2017. Two days later, he penned “Love for Love City.”
But the “Get Along” singer wanted to do even more for his beloved islands, so he decided todonate all proceeds from his albumto his nonprofit, theLove for Love City fund.
“The destruction was too much, and there were too many other places that were hurting,” Chesney said in a June 2018 statement. “When I realized the help that had to happen, I did what I could to facilitate getting things done.”
“But even more powerful to me were the people of theNo Shoes Nation, who stepped up and gave what they could,” he added at the time. “They showed me how people come together in times of crisis to lift up people they don’t even know.”
source: people.com
