The Best Brad Paisley Songs

This wasn’t exactly a big hit for Paisley in the height of the pandemic, but it’s a good song that took on a whole new meaning during the turbulent times of 2020.

The music video is particularly special, as Paisley enlists the help of fellow country stars Kelsea Ballerini and Darius Rucker (as well as 225 fans from 39 different countries!)

This song begins as a ballad, all before the punchline at the beginning of its honky-tonk chorus. Paisley and Frank Rogers penned the tune whilst still at Belmont University in the early 90s.

Garth Brooks, George Strait and Alan Jackson all supposedly showed interest in recording the song, but Paisley kept it to himself and took it to no.1 in 2002.

Taken off his debut album, this was the first glimpse we got of Paisley's romantic side. Lyrically, it's a classic storytelling country song about a barman who falls in love with a girl who's left her purse behind. The pair strike up a whirlwind romance after sharing a dance when she goes to collect it.

Paisley's vocals are soft and laid-back as he sets the scene, accompanied by a gorgeous high-pitched piano.

Another playful one from Paisley’s prime, on which he explains to his partner that "he’s still a guy" when she tries to curb his stereotypical masculine behaviour.

This no.1 is a fan-favourite at his concerts, the majority of the guys in the audience belting it out, beer raised in the air as if it was their national anthem! It also features some more fantastic guitar playing from Paisley.

This track is a nod to the great genre we all know and love, with Paisley once saying in an interview; “This is my love song to my fans, who live all our songs every day, and to this industry, which produces this music that does become the soundtrack to people's lives”.

Towards the end of the song, Paisley makes reference to several classic country hits, such as Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man’ and John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’.

In the early-to-mid-noughties, Paisley was in his prime. For this no.1, Paisley gets in touch with his sensitive and spiritual side as he speaks positively about life after death.

The lyrical imagery is vivid, as he sings, “I’ll land beside a lion / and run my fingers through his mane”.

Dolly Parton’s vocals further enhance the song, which won Vocal Event of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2005.

This double-platinum duet with Alison Krauss was penned by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall, and is up there with the saddest songs in country music. The lyrics bring to light the devastation that alcoholism can bring about, all set to a lovely acoustic arrangement featuring the dobro.

The song was named CMA Song of the Year in 2005.

Paisley wrote this no.1 hit with Ashley Gorley and Chris DuBois.

Country music is known for its clever lyrics and it doesn’t really get more so than this.

The protagonist goes through the different stages of life, with a hook line tying it all together; “I thought I loved you then”.

Nothing compares to how strong his love has grown now. It’s one of the most beautiful of love songs.