Jerry Maguire film inspires Kenny Chesney’s slow-brewing ballad “You Had Me from Hello”

The single “You Had Me From Hello” from the 1999 album “Everywhere We Go” was written by Kenny Chesney and Skip Ewing. Chesney became a major country star with this platinum album, producing two No. 1 hits: “You Had Me From Hello” and “How Forever Feels.” 

“Everywhere We Go” is Kenny Chesney’s fourth album that produced other famous singles like “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “What I Need to Do,” which was No. 11 and No. 8 on the country charts, respectively. This album marked his shift from neotraditional country to a more familiar country pop or trop-rock sound he became known for. 

Inspiration for the Song

Among all Kenny Chesney’s hit songs, he was particularly inspired to write this second single after he saw the movie, “Jerry Maguire” in 1996. 

The iconic line, “You had me at hello,” that Jerry (played by Tom Cruise) told Dorothy (Renee Zellweger’s character) in the unforgettable scene in the living room was enough to get Chesney to pen the song that led to his marriage to Zellweger in 2005. Even if they divorced 225 days later, “You Had Me From Hello” became Kenny’s third No.1 hit in the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was also certified gold by the RIAA. 

Get that summer lovin’ feeling with Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello” in the video below.