Kenny Chesney is mourning the loss of Ruby “Da Ruba Girl,” a rescue dog that was adopted by his longtime friend, Mary.
The country superstar took to social media early Sunday (Dec. 4) to share a heartfelt post in memory of his four-legged friend.
“Today we lost Da Ruba Girl. Ruby lived her life never holding anything against anybody. She had an ancient, calming soul. She was honest and authentic, she was a protector, she took a warrior’s path in the journey of her life. Ruby loved the sun and how it felt on her face. She and I had that in common,” Chesney wrote alongside a photo of Da Ruba Girl.
He went on to bid farewell to the pup with an emotional message.
“Today I know Ruby is sitting somewhere with the sun on her face happy and grateful to have slipped her skin and body that was full of cancer. I know she is happy to have had Poncho in her life. They were partners in crime and never spent a day apart. But she is forever grateful that Mary saved her from the shelter. But really they ended up saving each other. I’m going to miss her, especially in the mornings. That’s when she and I really connected. So bye-bye, Ruby. You were a very good girl. We loved you, and thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally. You were one heaven of a dog. “She’ll be known all over the world… as Da Ruba Girl.”
Chesney’s love for Da Ruba Girl inspired him to write a song in her honor. The track was written solely by the East Tennessee native and plays exclusively on Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Radio channel on SiriusXM.
“Her best friend’s name is Poncho / And she loves him, oh my gosh / Like Frosty Paws / She hates the mowers and the marrow / Like she hates to get a wash / Her hair doesn’t grow and it doesn’t curl / She’s Da Ruba Girl,” Chesney sings on the first chorus of the tune, which also name-drops his 11-year-old dog, Poncho.
Chesney adopted Poncho, a Goldendoodle, in 2012.
“A friend gave it to me and said, ‘Here, Kenny, you have to learn to attach to something!’ God’s honest truth!” Chesney told PEOPLE at the time. “Now, I love the guy. Next thing you know, next day at Pet Smart, I’m buying stuff, buying things and I have no idea!”
Poncho is the “Here And Now” singer’s first dog since childhood. He sometimes pops up on Chesney’s social media accounts and even made a guest appearance in his 2012 “Come Over” music video.
Kenny Chesney is an animal lover and showcased his love for dogs and cats in 2018 when he helped rescue nearly 1,400 animals after Hurricane Irma tore through the U.S. Virgin Islands. His Love For Love City Foundation aided in the response through a partnership with Victory Air and Big Dog Ranch Rescue.
Chesney recently announced that will be returning to the road in 2023 on his I Go Back Tour.
The trek, which kicks off on March 25 in State College, PA, features support from Kelsea Ballerini and will find the eight-time Entertainer of the Year going back to where he started in an effort to honor his fans – No Shoes Nation – in the best way he knows how.
The I Go Back Tour will visit 21 cities across the United States before wrapping up at the Hy-Vee Indy Race on July 22 in Des Moines, IA.
The tour comes after a record-breaking year for Chesney, who played 21 NFL stadiums this past summer.
Kenny Chesney I Go Back Tour Dates
March 25 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
March 30 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
April 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
April 6 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
April 8 – Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
April 12 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC
April 14 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
April 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga*
April 25 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
April 27 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 29 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
May 4 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The Mark
May 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
May 9 – Grand Forks, ND – The Alerus Center
May 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center
May 13 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
May 18 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
May 20 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center
May 25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
May 27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf
July 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hy-Vee Indy Race*
*previously announced
