Kenna looked cool onstage as he opened Live Earth U.S.A., but inside he was trying not to let his nerves get the best of him.
"It's Giants Stadium first of all -- then you add that it's something significant and historic on top of that," the Ethiopian native woh now hails from Virginia, told me backstage. "I was just trying to make it through."
Kenna said he will spend the next six months promoting his upcoming "Make Sure They See My Face" (Interscope) album, which is more aggressive and guitar-driven than his debut.
"You gotta come with something new," he said. "I'd hate to put out the same album twice."
Kenna said he knew he was being considered for a Live Earth slot for weeks, but he wasn't sure whether he was heading to Sydney, London or East Rutherford until last week.
"I was just excited to be a part of the event," he said.
PHOTO: Kenna opens Live Earth U.S.A. by Mat Szwajkos, Getty Images