VOA常速英语:Brad Paisley Pays Tribute to Country Music

"Entertainment Weekly’s" review of Brad Paisley’s new album, “This Is Country Music,” reads, “The whole record plays like a best-of sampler - not just for Paisley, but for the history of the art form.”

Paisley feels the title track of his new album sets the tone for the entire collection.  He says, “The song itself is what inspired the album, which is the best way to have an album come about.  From then on, all the songs on the album fill certain slots and paint the rest of the picture.”

Paisley is known for his musical diversity that shows all sides of his personality.  His hits include ballads, up-tempo songs and humorous novelty tunes.  He says, “I’m really lucky that radio has allowed me to be myself, because that’s not always something that people get to do.  I’ve been allowed to straddle that fence all the way throughout my career.”

Paisley co-wrote 12 of the 15 tracks on “This Is Country Music.”  Guests include Carrie Underwood, Don Henley, Blake Shelton, actor Clint Eastwood and legendary Country band Alabama, which joins Paisley on his Number One hit, “Old Alabama.”  “Remind Me,” the new single from the album, features Carrie Underwood.

Brad Paisley is the reigning Country Music Association (CMA) Entertainer of the Year.  To date, he’s won a total of 14 CMA Awards, three Grammys and 14 Academy of Country Music Awards.

“This Is Country Music” debuted at Number One on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.  This is Paisley's sixth consecutive album to enter that list in the top spot.

Paisley recently kicked off his “H2O II Wetter and Wilder” tour.  The 35-city trek includes five stadium concerts and eight European dates.  Later this year, he will have his first book published.  “Diary of a Player” tells the story of his journey to becoming a Country music star.  In it, Paisley also shares his memories about the musicians in Country, blues and rock-and-roll who have inspired him throughout his life.