Ego deficient
Brad Paisley is too much of a good guy to become super famous
Brad Paisley at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Friday
Paisley will be never be as much of an ego-maniac as fellow country star KennyChesney.
Let alone the big-headed, chicken-wings-loving Garth Brooks.Courtesy photo
Look up the word affable in the dictionary and, well ... you'll find the definition of affable. But if you look below that, it's very possible that you could find a picture of country music star Brad Paisley (who's playing Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Friday night).
If Paisley wasn't so busy touring the country as one of the biggest-drawing country music acts not named Kenny Chesney, the city of Nashville just might elect him mayor or hire him as the face of Music City's Chamber of Commerce.
He's Toby Keith without the bong (allegedly) or righteous indignation (proven time and time again). He's Garth Brooks without the bloated ego and penchant for chicken wings and George Jones without ... actually forget that.
Paisley is nothing like George Jones.
Aside from having the audacity of incredible success — in his first decade as a recording star he's sold around eight million albums and had 15 No. 1 country singles including "She's Everything," "Then" and this year's "Water" — about the worst thing that can be said about the 37 year-old Paisley is that he's a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan.
Oh and he's a little doe-eyed and sappy which actually plays very nice to the buckle bunnies.
He fell for his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, after seeing her in the Steve Miller comedy Father of the Bride. By 2003 they married and have since had two sons, Huck and Jasper. (Really? Are you kidding me?)
Paisley has been on the road for the better of the decade, but never has his candle burned brighter. Last year, he was voted top male vocalist by both the Academy of Country Music and the County Music Association. Couple that with his latest album, American Saturday Night, which has garnered more hits than the Astros this year (Sorry baseball fans, that was a cheap shot) and you have the makings of a true-red-white-and-blue country superstar.
Now, if only Paisley could get into some paparazzi-friendly trouble — a drunken brawl at the Grand Ol Opry, domestic squabble in the parking lot of a Hooters, etc. — he could get really famous.
Don't count on it though. Not with Huck and Jasper in the back seat anyway.
Friday, August 6
Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker, Steel Magnolia and more, 7:30 p.m. at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Tickets: $25-$59.50
