Brad Paisley is an elite singer, songwriter and guitarist, and he has been ever since he burst onto the Nashville scene by way of West Virginia. Very few modern country superstars concoct as potent a mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and heartstring-tugging love songs as Paisley.
Sure, hilarious CMA Awards hosting gigs with Carrie Underwood helped. But Paisley got to his arena-filling success on the backs of great songs. His run of success continues into 2023 with new selection "So Many Summers."
With 21 No. 1 singles and plenty of great deep cuts, Paisley's catalog has few duds— aside from the fairly derided "Accidental Racist." Seriously, the competition to make it onto our playlist was stiff. Let's take a look at the cream of the Paisley songs crop— many of which will make you chuckle or cry, sometimes in the same verse.
Taylor Hill/WireImage A sentimental ballad worthy of prime years Lonestar, Paisley delivers one of his strongest and most emotive vocal performances across nearly five and a half minutes. Its crossover appeal made it Paisley's first song on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Jason Kempin/FilmMagic Paisley fits the same lineage of wise-cracking country lyricists as Bobby Bare, Tom T. Hall and others. Here's the first of multiple examples of Paisley bringing some levity to the top of the charts. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for CBS RADIO Our first obligatory wedding playlist suggestion, "Today" richly tells about how true love can get us through the most mundane days. Though it ranks relatively high here, it might be the Paisley standard with the most heart. On the album, it leads into the much sillier "Selfie #theinternetisforever" which, like this list, reminds us of Paisley's creative range. J. Kempin/FilmMagic for Country Music Association Paisley's mastered genuinely sweet songs that don't stifle his sense of humor. For example, this one elicits a few chuckles while also being suitable for a swoon-inducing serenade. Mark Horton/WireImage Maybe it's the winning lottery ticket part or the hot backing band, but there's something here that screams Luke Combs. It's one of the better showpieces of Paisley's undeniable skill as a guitarist. R. Diamond/WireImage Another playful tune, Paisley uses a brand-new pickup truck as the centerpiece of a backroads love song. Chevrolet sponsored the product placement. Taking the theme further, there's a 2003 Silverado on the cover of Paisley's Mud on the Tires album. Ed Rode/WireImage Paisley's first No. 1 and second big-label single is still among his most heartfelt. It's from the perspective of a man who not only embraced his stepdad— he wanted to be the same kind of husband and father as an adult as his hero "didn't have to be." Taylor Hill/WireImage The title track from his 2009 album, "American Saturday Night" showcases elements that make Paisley such a special artist. Not many could people pull off a song that somehow manages to feel patriotic without being cliche. It praises American diversity and includes a ripping guitar solo. He's explored such topics a few other times too, including on songs like "Southern Comfort Zone" and "Heaven South." Jason Squires/WireImage It's hard to imagine anybody else making ticks sound playfully sexy. Paisley hones in on what most people consider a pretty uniquely Southern experience —and an important step in preventative healthcare— and then turns it somehow into a charming love song. Taylor Hill/WireImage Paisley's 2011 album This Is Country Music brought some absolute smashers. Among them was "Remind Me," which features Underwood. It became a country radio No. 1 as well as Paisley's highest-highest charting single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. J.Sciulli/WireImage for CMT: Country Music Television Another of Paisley's earlier tunes, "Alcohol" quickly became a fan favorite and a staple of his live show after it appeared on the album Time Well Wasted. He wrote it entirely by himself and landed two Grammy nominations for the tune. An early example of Paisley's knack for poking fun at, well, everyone, "Alcohol" helped establish his musical wit. It's interesting to note, too, that Paisley himself doesn't imbibe. Rick Diamond/WireImage If only Paisley had known how much more true this song would eventually become. He wrote and released it in 2007 (on album 5th Gear) at the height of the Myspace craze and when Facebook still required a college email address. Still, the insanely catchy "Online" stands the test of time. The music video featured then-rising star Taylor Swift, who was just out of high school, and a young Kellie Pickler. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM Paisley's song with Alabama was a huge success for a reason. Bringing cousins Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry in to record a song about the band's country legacy takes standing on the shoulders of musical giants to a whole different level. Rusty Russell/Getty Images Released in 2003, "Little Moments" became Paisley fans' go-to love song before "Waitin' on a Woman" topped it five years later. He took that same playful tone from a song like "Ticks," slowed it down and turned it into a romantic ballad from the perspective of a married man. Paisley's performance makes a song with lyrics about fender benders and burnt cakes suit wedding playlists, and that takes a true craftsperson. Adele Starr/Getty Images A standout from Paisley's lone major label album from the '90s (1999's Who Needs Pictures), this knee-slapper captures the frantic energy and undeniable fun associated with some of Joe Diffie, Brooks & Dunn and other peers' more upbeat hits. Rusty Russell/Getty Images Paisley's first No. 1 and second big-label single is still among his most heartfelt. It's from the perspective of a man who not only embraced his stepdad— he wanted to be the same kind of spouse and parent as an adult as his hero "didn't have to be." Kevin Winter/Getty Images Dolly Parton lent vocals to this song, which is enough to land it on our list. Even without a country legend's contributions, this tune penned by George Teren and Rivers Rutherford would be a source of comfort for listeners in times of loss. It's a great example of just how important music really is, and not only in good times. The song had a stint on Christian radio when Geoff Moore covered it in 2007. it began an historic streak for Paisley of 10 straight No. 1s. Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic for Country Music Association If you haven't seen the music video for this one, just watch it. Andy Griffith's cameo is enough to bring you to tears. Beyond that, it's among the finest examples of storytelling in modern country love song lore. Paul Natkin/Getty Images Paisley's funniest song is smart aleck in a Roger Miller kind of way. It's no wonder, then, that country traditionalists Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and George Strait are said to have stated interest in cutting it themselves. Even with that cast of names, it's hard to imagine anyone suiting its humor quite like Paisley. M. Caulfield/WireImage for Bragman Nyman Cafarelli Amazingly, this beautiful duet with Alison Krauss from 2003's Mud On The Tires never made it to No. 1 on country radio, peaking at No. 2. But no matter, because it will go down as one of the quintessential sad country songs. Bill Anderson and Jon Randall wrote the tune, with Paisley and Krauss bringing its haunting words to life. One of Paisley's four songs to go double platinum, "Whiskey Lullaby" won the CMA Song of the Year Award in 2005."Then" (American Saturday Night, 2009)
"I'm Still a Guy" (5th Gear, 2007)
"Today" (Love and War, 2017)
"She's Everything" (Time Well Wasted, 2005)
"River Bank" (Moonshine in the Trunk, 2014)
"Mud on the Tires" (Mud on the Tires, 2003)
"He Didn't Have to Be" (Who Needs Pictures, 1999)
"American Saturday Night" (American Saturday Night, 2009)
"Ticks" (5th Gear, 2007)
"Remind Me" (Feat. Carrie Underwood) (This Is Country Music, 2011)
"Alcohol" (Time Well Wasted, 2005)
"Online" (5th Gear, 2007)
"Old Alabama" (Feat. Alabama) (This is Country Music, 2011)
"Little Moments" (Mud on the Tires, 2003)
"Me Neither" (Who Needs Pictures, 1999)
"He Didn't Have to Be" (Who Needs Pictures, 1999)
"When I Get Where I'm Going" (Feat. Dolly Parton) (Time Well Wasted, 2005)
"Waitin' On A Woman" (Time Well Wasted, 2005)
"I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" (Part II, 2001)
"Whiskey Lullaby" (Feat. Alison Krauss) (Mud on the Tires, 2003)
This story from 2017 previously ran on Oct. 28, 2022.
