Brad Paisley

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Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley performing live on June 9, 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Brad Douglas Paisley
Born	October 28, 1972 (1972-10-28) (age 35)
Origin	Glen Dale, West Virginia, United States
Genre(s)	Country
Occupation(s)	musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1999-present
Label(s)	Arista Nashville
Website	bradpaisley.com
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Telecaster

Brad Douglas Paisley (born October 28, 1972 in Glen Dale, West Virginia) is a Grammy-winning American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist. Starting with the release of his 1999 album Who Needs Pictures, Brad has recorded five studio albums and a Christmas compilation on the Arista Nashville label, with all of his albums certified gold or higher by the RIAA^[1]. In addition, he has charted twenty singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, ten of which have reached Number One. His style crosses between traditional country and pop-rock, frequently lacing his songs with humor and pop culture references.

1 Biography
2 Personal life
3 Discography
4 Awards
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early Years

Paisley has stated that his love of country music stems from his maternal grandfather, who gave Paisley his first guitar at age eight and taught him how to play. At age twelve Paisley wrote his first song, and by age thirteen, he was an opening act for country singers such as Ricky Skaggs and George Jones at the Capital Music Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Paisley graduated from John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia ^[2], studied briefly at West Liberty State College (WV), and later was awarded a full-paid ASCAP scholarship to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee (from 1993 to 1995). While in college, he met Frank Rogers, a fellow student who went on to serve as his producer. Paisley also met Kelley Lovelace, who became his songwriting partner.

After graduating from Belmont, Paisley signed a songwriting contract with EMI Music Publishing and he wrote David Kersh's top 5 hit, "Another You", as well as cuts by Tracy Byrd and David Ball.

[edit] 1999-2001: Who Needs Pictures & Rise to Fame

His debut as a singer was with the label Arista Nashville, with the song "Who Needs Pictures" (released February 22, 1999). In May of that same year, he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry^[3]. Seven months later he had his first #1 hit with "He Didn't Have to Be," which detailed the story of Lovelace and Lovelace's stepson.

In 2000, Paisley was exposed to his first national non-country music oriented audience when producer, Todd Baker, tapped him to appear on the TLC special, "Route 66: Main Street America." This show featured Paisley and band doing rare live and acoustic versions of Route 66. The international and home video versions of this program end with a full, un-cut acoustic rendition of the piece, which was performed live on Rainbow Bridge in Riverton, KS.

Later in 2000, Paisley won the Country Music Association's (CMA) Horizon Award and the Academy of Country Music's best new male vocalist trophy. He received his first Grammy Award nomination a year later for Best New Artist. On February 17, 2001, Paisley was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry^[4].

[edit] 2001-2003: Part II & Beginning of Stardom

In 2002, he won the CMA Music Video of the Year for "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)." Several celebrities made notable guest appearances in the video, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Kimberly Williams, Dan Patrick, and Jerry Springer.

[edit] 2003-2005: Mud on The Tires

Paisley released his third album, Mud on the Tires (2003), following Who Needs Pictures and Part II. The album features the hit song "Celebrity," the video of which parodies reality shows such as Fear Factor and American Idol and included such celebrities as Jason Alexander, Jim Belushi, Little Jimmy Dickens, Trista Rehn, and William Shatner. The album's title track, "Mud on the Tires," reached Billboard #1 in 2004.^[5]

[edit] 2005-2007: Time Well Wasted

In 2005, after touring with Reba McEntire and Terri Clark on the critically acclaimed "Two Hats and a Redhead Tour," he released Time Well Wasted, containing 15 tracks. This album includes "Alcohol," two duets — "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly Parton and "Out in the Parking Lot" with Alan Jackson — and a bonus track, "Cornography." On November 6, 2006, the album "Time Well Wasted" won the Country Music Association CMA Award for Best Album. "Time Well Wasted" also won album of the year at the 2006 ACM Awards.

Paisley also contributed two original songs to the Disney film Cars. These can be found on the film's soundtrack. This was in recognition of his contribution to the "Route 66: Main Street America" television special.

At the 2006 Grammy Awards, Paisley received four nominations: Best Country Album (for Time Well Wasted), Best Country Song (for "Alcohol"), Best Country Instrumental (for "Time Warp") and Best Country Vocal, Male (for "Alcohol").

[edit] 2007-Present: 5th Gear & Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour

Paisley's newest album, 5th Gear, was released in the United States on June 19, 2007. "Ticks" was the first single from the album, and quickly rose to #1 on the country music singles charts. The second single from the album, "Online," hit #1. The song contains the Brentwood High School marching band playing at the end of the song. The third single "Letter to Me" has also hit #1, making 6 straight number one hits.

He is currently on tour with opening acts Taylor Swift and Rodney Atkins on the Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour, and recently shot another video for "Letter to Me" in his hometown of Glen Dale, WV. He invited his graduating class back to participate in the making of the video.

Starting in January 2008, he will be touring with Rodney Atkins and Chuck Wicks.

He has been nominated for three 2008 Grammy Awards: Best Country Album (for 5th Gear), Best Country Collaboration (for "Oh Love" with Carrie Underwood), and Best Country Instrumental (for "Throttleneck"). On February 10, 2008, he won his first Grammy award for Best Country Instrumental for "Throttleneck".

[edit] Personal life

Paisley performing in 2006.

In 2000, Paisley began dating actress Kimberly Williams, on whom he'd had a crush since watching the 1991 movie Father of the Bride. The two married on March 15, 2003 at Stauffer Chapel on the campus of Pepperdine University; they live in Franklin, Tennessee with another home in Malibu. They have a son, William Huckleberry Paisley, born on February 22, 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee.^[6]

Paisley, a 32nd degree Mason, owns a Learjet 45 and approximately 80 acres in Williamson County just outside of Franklin, TN.^{[citation needed]}

Paisley uses custom made Crook Telecaster Guitars and Dr. Z Amplifiers for his signature sound.^[7]

Paisley is also known for creating animated videos to accompany his songs during concerts and tours.

[edit] Discography

For a list of singles and albums, see Brad Paisley discography.

[edit] Awards

Academy of Country Music
- 1999 - Top New Male Vocalist
- 2004 - Vocal Event of the Year ("Whiskey Lullaby")
- 2004 - Video of the Year ("Whiskey Lullaby")
- 2005 - Album of the Year (Time Well Wasted)
- 2005 - Vocal Event of the Year ("When I Get Where I'm Going")
- 2005 - Video of the Year ("When I Get Where I'm Going")
- 2006 - Top Male Vocalist

Country Music Association Awards
- 2000 - Horizon Award
- 2001 - Vocal Event of the Year ("Too Country")
- 2002 - Music Video of the Year ("I'm Gonna Miss Her")
- 2004 - Musical Event of the Year ("Whiskey Lullaby")
- 2004 - Music Video of the Year ("Whiskey Lullaby")
- 2006 - Album of the Year (Time Well Wasted)
- 2006 - Musical Event of the Year ("When I Get Where I'm Going")
- 2007 - Music Video of the Year ("Online" - director Jason Alexander)
- 2007 - Male Vocalist of the Year

Grammy Awards
- 2008 - Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Throttleneck")

Country Weekly Presents the TNN Music Awards
- 2000 - The Discovery Award
- 2000 - Song of the Year ("He Didn't Have to Be")
- 2000 - CMT Music Video of the Year ("He Didn't Have to Be")

CMT Music Awards
- 2002 - Concept Video of the Year ("I'm Gonna Miss Her")
- 2005 - Collaborative Video of the Year ("Whiskey Lullaby")
- 2006 - Most Inspiring Video of the Year ("When I Get Where I'm Going")