Mid-1980s picture of Chesney wearing number 7 at Gibbs High School in honor of University of Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway. (PROVIDED BY CHESNEY)

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Early 20th Century novelist Thomas Wolfe once said “You Can’t Go Home Again,” but that’s simply not true if you ask country star and East Tennessee-native Kenny Chesney.

Chesney surprised the Gibbs High School football team on Wednesday night and invited WVLT Volunteer TV News along for the homecoming. The country star graduated from Gibbs in the mid-1980s, where he was also a member of the Eagles varsity football squad.

His secret visit to the Corryton school on Wednesday was all because he wanted to give the current group of players a sneak peak of something very special.

“You all grew up just like us,” Chesney said. “You drive the same road we drove, you obviously played on the same football field we played on and walked through the same halls, so it’s really a special time for me to come here and play you guys this. A game we all love."

Chesney was referring to a special film that he is a part of. The film is called “Boys of Fall” and is basically a journey through football featuring Chesney conducting interviews with some of the greatest players and coaches in the game.

The documentary airs Sunday on ESPN. You can catch a full preview of it, including Chesney’s return to Gibbs High School by clicking on the video above.