Country music superstar Kenny Chesney remains close with a family that was directly affected by the Sandy Hook shooting. It was December 14, 2012 when a gunman opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in New Town, Connecticut. 20 children and six staff members were murdered that day by the senseless act of gun violence. One of the 20 children who lost their life was seven-year-old Grace McDonnell. If the name sounds familiar, you may remember the interview that CNN’s Anderson Cooper did with the family just three days after the shooting. Lynn and Chris McDonnell were the parents of Grace, and shared that she loved art, loved to cook, and was a big fan of both Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney. In a recent interview with Kenny Chesney on All There Is with Anderson Cooper, the broadcast journalist shared with Chesney how he came to find out that the McDonnell family – including Grace – were big fans of his: “I interviewed the mother of Grace McDonnell, who was a little girl killed at Sandy Hook, and her name was Lynn. Before that interview, I was in their kitchen talking to them, and this was just days after their daughter was killed. There was a photo of you on the refrigerator. I said to Lynn, ‘Oh, do you like Kenny Chesney?’ And her eyes lit up, and she was like, ‘Grace loved Kenny Chesney, and the morning she was killed, we were standing at the school bus stop waiting for the bus and we were singing a Kenny Chesney song.’ And I just texted you to say, ‘Hey I just wanted you to know, you really touched this family’s life.'” When that happened back in 2012, Kenny responded to Anderson and said he wanted to get in touch with Lynn and the McDonnell family. Chesney had long conversations with the McDonells, and became close friends with them even through the heartbreaking circumstances. The country music artist explained that he’s tried to have Lynn and Chris out to shows as often as he can, and that the McDonnell family often gives him gifts – none more special than the piece of art that Grace had completed before she passed: “We have since then become really good friends. I can’t tell you how many shows her and Chris have come to over the years. They actually brought me a piece of art that Grace painted and gave it to me. I had it framed. It was in my bus for years.” And interestingly enough, when Anderson Cooper and Kenny Chesney sat down for a conversation, neither realized that the day they were speaking with one another – November 4 – held a lot of significance to the McDonnells: “I’m a very spiritual person, and I believe in people pushing people together. You know today, as we are sitting her talking, today is November 4. I’m not sure when this (interview) is running, but as I’m sitting here talking to you today, it’s November 4. Grace’s birthday. She would have been 20 years old today. And here we are talking. You’re the one that connected me with that family. I get chills thinking about it.” @cnnIn the latest podcast episode of “All There Is,” CNN’s Anderson Cooper spoke with country music star Kenny Chesney about their connection to the family of Grace McDonnell, a 7-year-old killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Watch the full episode and join the conversation at cnn.com/allthereis ♬ original sound – CNN November 4 is also the day that Kenny Chesney’s memoir, Heart Life Music, was released. Chesney said that Lynn McDonnell was the one that actually pointed that out to him. Prior to an email exchange with Grace’s mother, the country music star had no idea that November 4 was her birthday. It’s just another one of those things that ended up giving Kenny Chesney chills when he thought about it. He and the McDonnel family continue to stay connected, and they’ve had plenty of conversations about how Kenny was a part of their household and beach vacations. That warms Chesney’s heart to know, but when he does relive and remember the tragedy that played out at Sandy Hook Elementary School over a decade ago, he can’t help but become frustrated: “It’s been how many years now (since Sandy Hook?) And the fact that we have this in our country, it’s stunning that we still have to deal with it. I’m so sick of watching sporting events and having moments of silence. It seems like there’s been a lot. And to know that Grace would have been 20 years old today, it’s just a life cut short. I do feel a connection with her and that family. I really do.” You can hear Kenny Chesney talk more about his relationship with the family affected by the tragic Sandy Hook shooting in the interview below: All There Is with Anderson Cooper – Kenny Chesney The post Kenny Chesney Still Stays Connected With Family Who Lost Their Daughter In 2012 Sandy Hook School Shooting: “Grace Would’ve Been 20 Years Old Today” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.