Born October 28, 1972, in Glen Dale, Marshall County, country musician Brad Paisley began playing music as a child. Encouraged by his grandfather, Warren Jarvis, Paisley by age eight was studying guitar with local musician Clarence ‘‘Hank’’ Goddard. Two years later Paisley fronted the C-Notes, a band of older musicians including Goddard. At age 14 Paisley became the youngest-ever regular cast member of the Jamboree USA radio show on Wheeling station WWVA. Remaining with that show for the next eight years, he also opened local concerts for such visiting country music acts as Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, and the Judds.
By the mid-1990s, Paisley had moved to Nashville, signed a songwriting contract with EMI Music Publishing, and made several demo recordings. Signing with Avista Records, he recorded his debut album, Who Needs Pictures (1999), which featured several of his own songs. The title song rose to the Top Ten on the country chart and another song, ‘‘He Didn’t Have to Be,’’ rose to number one. Many fans of traditional country music viewed Paisley as the most promising newcomer in mainstream country music. In 2000, the Academy of Country Music named Paisley ‘‘Top New Male Vocalist’’ and the Country Music Association gave him the Horizon Award.
Brad Paisley joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2001. He released his second album, Part II, in 2002, and his third, Mud on the Tires, in 2003. He released his Time Well Wasted album in 2005, including the hit song, ‘‘Alcohol.’’ He released his albums Then and American Saturday Night in 2009. By 2010, Paisley had amassed over 30 awards, including three Grammys (one in 2008 and two in 2009), and was named Country Music Association’s best male vocalist in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He received the Entertainer of the Year award from the Country Music Association in 2010. He hosted the show in 2011 with Carrie Underwood for the fourth year in a row.
Paisley and his wife, actress and singer Kimberly Williams, were married in 2003 and live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their two sons.
This Article was written by Ted Olson
Last Revised on October 22, 2010
User Comments
So far, there aren't any comments for this article. Be the first!
Sorry, you must be logged in to make a comment.
Don't have an account? Register today!