Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Brad Paisley Gets One-of-a-Kind Honor From the Grand Ole Opry

by Chuck Dauphin, Nashville  |   October 19, 2011 5:00 EDT
Brad Paisley performs on the stage at LP Field during the 2011 CMA Music Festival on June 9, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Frederick Breedon IV/Getty Images

Artists in this Article

Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood

Related Articles

Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton Top CMA Award Nominees

Taylor Swift will be battling the boys at the 2011 Country Music Association Awards for entertainer of the year, where she'll compete with Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley.

Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley Performing at CMA Awards

aylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley will all take the stage before one is crowned Entertainer of the Year, the CMA's top prize.

Video: Carrie Underwood Gives Album Update at iHeartRadio Music Fest

The country star tells Billboard.com that the lineup for the inaugural iHeartradio Music Festival drew her to the desert to perform hits like "Undo It" and 'Before He Cheats."

Rascal Flatts Talk Opry Honor & Natasha Bedingfield Duet

It's a historic week in the career of Rascal Flatts. The trio of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney will join the cast of the Grand Ole Opry this weekend during the show's 86th birthday celebration in Music City. DeMarcus says the trio is still trying to process the membership invitation.

In the 86-year history of the Grand Ole Opry, many historic moments have taken place. Hank Williams debuting in 1949 with "Lovesick Blues." A truck driver named Elvis on the Ryman stage. Garth Brooks and "Friends In Low Places." So as amazing as it sounds, something happened on the Opry stage Tuesday that had never happened before.

 

A number one party was held for country superstar Brad Paisley. However, with the Opry's penchant for history making moments, it was more than just your normal number one party. The celebration was a double ceremony for Paisley's most recent two chart-toppers, "Old Alabama" -- with the legendary group Alabama, and "Remind Me," a duet with Carrie Underwood. Watch Them Perform:

 

 

Written by Paisley, Chris DuBois, Dave Turnbull, and Randy Owen (via the sample of "Mountain Music"), "Old Alabama" reunited Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry for their first No. 1 on the Billboard charts since 1993's "Reckless." Owen took time to thank Paisley for his help with the recent 'Bama Rising concert in June that helped victims of the spring tornadoes in Alabama.

 

"Remind Me," the third single from Paisley's "This Is Country Music" disc, paired him with his Arista label mate Underwood. During the press conference after the party, Paisley said that it was a thrill to record the song "with the best vocalist in this format - any format," referring to Underwood. He likened their relationship to that of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn -- both musically and on a personal level. The two will be hosting the upcoming Country Music Association Awards for the fourth straight year on Wednesday, November 9. He said it's something that he takes seriously.

 

"I will be up late many nights between now and the awards, working on lines, talking to the writers," he said.

 

The day was made very special by the fact that both singles were collaborations. Working with other artists is something that is not new to Paisley. He has topped the charts before by teaming up with acts such as Keith Urban ("Start A Band") and Dolly Parton ("When I Get Where I'm Going"). "I think collaborations instantly raise the bar on what a song is capable of," he said. He also said he would love to go outside of the format for his next recording partnership - possibly Eric Clapton.

 

Paisley also was excited about the release of his new book, "The Diary Of A Player." The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year said that the book talks about his relationship with the guitar, as well as some of those who have influenced him along the way. He mentioned names like James Burton, Steve Wariner, and the late Don Rich. "I've been fortunate to work with many of them except for Don Rich," he said.

 

Paisley's current single from "This Is Country Music" is "Camouflage," which currently sits at No. 42 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Up for Discussion

Connect with

More Features

All features

All of Billboard.com's Great Lists

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.