Attended John Marshall High School - near Wheeling, West Virginia
Briefly attended West Liberty State College - near Wheeling, West Virginia
He attended and graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee with a degree in Music Business
His duet with Alison Krauss, 'Whiskey Lullaby', was awarded with Best Vocal Event and Best Music Video from the Country Music Association in 2004. He'd won the award Best Music Video previously in 2002 for 'I'm Gonna Miss Her'.
Was nominated for a Grammy for his rendition of legendary Nashville guitar player Hank Garland's song, "The Sugarfoot Rag".
Brad Paisley Detailed Biography
He stated that his love of country music stems from his maternal grandfather, who gave Paisley his first guitar at age 8 and taught him how to play. At age 12 Paisley wrote his first song, and by 13 he was the opening act for country singers such as Ricky Skaggs and George Jones.
Paisley graduated from John Marshall High School in Glen Dale and enrolled at Belmont University (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. His debut as a singer was with the label Arista Nashville, and the song was "Who Needs Pictures" (released February 22, 1999). That May, he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Seven months later he had his first #1 hit: "He Didn't Have To Be."
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. On February 17, 2001, after forty appearances on the show, he was inducted into the Opry Hall of Fame.
In 2002, he won the CMA Music Video of the Year for "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)." Featured in that video were Little Jimmy Dickens, Kimberly Williams, Dan Patrick, and Jerry Springer.
Paisley released his third album, Mud on the Tires (2003), following Who Needs Pictures and Part II. The album features the hit song "Celebrity," which parodies reality shows such as Fear Factor and included such famous people as Jason Alexander, Little Jimmy Dickens, Trista Rehn, and William Shatner; and the title track (a number 1 hit in January 2005).
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, including "Alcohol", a duet ("When I Get Where I'm Going") with Dolly Parton, another ("Out in the Parking Lot") with Alan Jackson, and a bonus track, "Cornography".
Paisley is married to actress Kimberly Williams. They live in Franklin, Tennessee.
