Contest Winner To Be Kenny's Opening Act

3/26/2008 Lisa Ann Schleipfer Country Music loves the big stars that like to help newcomers, and Kenny Chesney is about to do just that.  The opening acts for his Poets & Pirates 2008 Tour will be battle-of-the-band winners, competing before each show to take the stage before Chesney.   The Big Star Contest, so named for Chesney's 2002 song "Big Star," will kick off this spring.  Chesney said, "People told me I was crazy… and logistically, it's taken a whole lot of people to sort out just how to do it, to be fair and to find local bands all over America who deserve the shot."   At least one lucky band will open for Chesney on his Chesney's Poets & Pirates 2008 Tour (in said band's hometown).  But the winning band really wins.  The final contestant will open for the final leg of the tour, including Tulsa, St. Louis and Indianapolis.  They also will receive $25,000 and the opportunity to audition for SonyBMG executives.   "If someone's come into Chucky's Trading Post - or even the Turf in Nashville - and given me the opportunity to win a shot to open for Keith Whitley, I'd've died. I don't want anybody dying, I just want to help get them a little closer to the dream," said Chesney.   At some point before each show on the tour, contestants will compete in a battle of the bands.  Each hometown winner from that contest gets the opportunity to open for Chesney, and possibly win the grand prize.   The first show of the Poets & Pirates 2008 Tour is April 18-19 in Connecticut.