Several local and state officials were in Loyall on Friday as a portion of KY 840 was renamed in honor of legendary songwriter and Harlan County native Jerry Chesnut.

In addition to the newly named Jerry Chesnut Highway, which passes through Loyall, a sign declaring the city as Chesnut’s birthplace was also unveiled.

“With all that he has done, we wanted the signs up because we are proud to say that he was from Loyall. I think I can speak for all of us in Loyall in saying that he needs to be recognized,” said Loyall Mayor Clarence Longworth. “We wanted to get these signs put up to let people know where he came from.”

Chesnut said he was honored to have the highway named in his honor.

“I don’t guess there is a way to describe it. It’s something you never count on, or try to earn, growing up here. You just go all over the world and do what you have to do to make a living,” he said. “But, I really appreciate it. It’s a great honor.”

Chesnut was born and raised in Harlan County. Following High School, he enlisted in the Air Force and served during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he settled in Florida, where for seven years he performed on local radio stations and worked as a conductor for the Florida East Coast Railway System.

In 1958, Chesnut moved to Nashville to pursue his love of music. In 1967, Del Reeves released Jerry's first hit song, "A Dime at a Time". Chesnut later signed a contract with United Artist records, however after several releases, his creative nature overcame his desire to be an artist, and he resigned. 

“I got on a recording label as an artist, and that took too much time, so I stuck with songwriting and really excelled. It is just a God given talent and I don’t know why he gave it to me,” Chesnut said.

Throughout his career, Chesnut worked with many musicians, including Elvis Presley, and wrote several hit songs, including: T-R-O-U-B-L-E, A good year for roses, It’s four in the morning, Another Place, Another Time, Holding on to Nothing, They Don’t Make Em’ Like My Daddy Anymore, Goodtime Charlies’, Looking at the World Through a Windshield, A Dine at a Time and The Wonders You Perform.

Chesnut’s accomplishments include: International songwriter of the year in 1973, songwriter of the year in 1972, induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996, induction into the International Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

Although Chesnut said he has enjoyed his career, he added that it has been “a lot of hard work.”

“I got up at four o’clock every morning and worked at it. Outside of somebody wanting your autograph, and things like this, it’s just a lot of hard brain work and is not a lot of fun,” he said. “Writing songs is a real challenge.”

For additional information about Chesnut, visit His Web site at www.jerrychesnutmusic.com.