 -- The CMAs Wednesday night honored country music icon Kenny Chesney with the Pinnacle Award.

The Grammy nominee and singer who has gone platinum over and over again with hit albums like "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" spoke exclusively to ABC News after the big night about what it means to be recognized by his peers.

He also opened up about his 20-year career, Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks' "incredible" CMA performance, and why he still loves what he does every day.

Here's the full interview:

It must have been emotional to receive the Pinnacle Award at the 50th Annual CMA -- as much as you love music and have history with many of the icons.

There is so much history and life in those songs ... in George and Tammy, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens -- and all the living stars who showed up. I felt very small hearing those songs all night, and realizing WHAT I was a part of. It sounds cliché, but it's humbling. You can play stadiums or have hits, but that room last night? That was amazing.

You also received a big award from BMI the night before. Why now? Does it mean more after all you've accomplished?

Well, the Presidents Award at BMI was about the music, and songs, and songwriters ... it recognized a kid from a small East Tennessee town with no clue about any of it, but a great big dream: to write songs that would touch lives the way music touched mine.

"The Tin Man," which I wrote in this small lonely little apartment, was every piece of me -- and it opened so many doors. It got me my publishing deal, my first record contract -- because people believed me and in me. It got some of these best writers at Acuff Rose, where Hank Sr. was signed to agree to write with me. So have the great Dean Dillon -- who was an East Tennessee guy I'd looked up to for all the amazing George Strait songs he'd written -- talk about how that song convinced him to give me a shot, then to hear him sing it? I was floored.

As for why now? I'm not sure. We work hard every day. I challenge myself, and my team, to raise the bar: creatively, onstage, in the studio. Maybe because we do keep doing that when it might be easy to coast. People can tell the music really matters to me, and the fans -- and they want to honor that.

What's the best part of what you do?

Honestly, I love being in the studio or writing and having a song come together. When it's your heart and you say it -- or find a song that says it just perfect -- that's incredible.

But, you know, getting up onstage, walking out and feeling that crowd hit you in the chest? Looking out into the pit and seeing those faces looking up at you? Even looking to the back of the stadium and seeing the lights waving from side to side? That's a connection. That says my songs and my life are their life, too. That's beyond words.

There's been quite a reaction to your reaction to Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks. Are you aware of it?

Sort of. After last night, we kinda unplugged. I think it's odd that being serious and really taking in what the Chicks and Beyoncé were doing would be judged like that. Their performance was incredible -- and I wanted to really take it in, absorb it.

I knew I had to walk up on that stage in a few moments and speak to all those people. I wanted to maintain composure because I knew the seriousness of speaking to a room filled with, honestly, people I grew up listening to, Keith Urban and Eric Church who'd said such beautiful things the night before, and I really wanted to appreciate the musicality of what they were doing. Yes, it was something to dance to, but I think it was also so much more.

Life isn't all mindless; sometimes you'll be amazed if you really look at what's gone into a performance or a song.

Why do you think people go there?

People are so agitated, and we're almost all on our last nerve. It's kind of why I wrote "Noise," and flipped a single with 13 days out. I don't have any answers, but I think when you start to be aware of it, you can build in some space.

Here you are with these massive awards. You have the No. 1 song this week -- for the second week -- with "P!NK." "Cosmic Hallelujah" is poised to debut No. 1 on the Hot 200 Albums, which is all genres. What does that take to stay inspired and keep breaking ground?

If you love music, I think that's all you need. You know, really love music, because it's like oxygen to me. If you realize how much life a song can hold, you always want to be better. When you know some of the songwriters and musicians I do, inspiration is easy.

And, again, when you have the No Shoes Nation to play for? Those people have the greatest hearts and souls. Every year, to hear them cheer, see those faces ... come on! I talked about the responsibility of having those people in your life last night, I wasn't kidding. They deserve the very best -- and it's why I put those album through the changes I did. It was really great, but when I saw it could be better, there was no other option.

Sports and music: be the best you can.

Can you explain what makes the No Shoes Nation so different?

Gosh, I think I just did. So much soul, so much heart. These people work hard, love hard, play hard -- and they have put so much of their life in my music. It's why we started No Shoes Radio for when we weren't on the road, and it's why I'm already starting to miss the smell of diesel and camping out under any number of football stadiums: just for the chance to have a couple hours to have them rock my world.