The countdown is on for Brad Paisley. It’s 21 days until he co-hosts the 44th annual Country Music Association Awards. And it’s 12 days until the release of his two-disc Hits Alive album.

The track list was unveiled Tuesday, and it includes 25 performances total — 21 different songs, some of them appearing in both studio and in-concert versions. And “Online” appears twice; it’s at the close of the studio disc and an “Online” reprise is the finale of the live disc.

Among the studio recordings are two that feature esteemed guests: Dolly Parton, who teamed with Brad on “When I Get Where I’m Going”; and Alison Krauss, who joined him on “Whiskey Lullaby.” Fans who’ve seen Brad’s concerts the last couple of years have seen Alison do that song with him, via pre-recorded video, in his regular set.

Songs that are repeated — once live, once in studio — include “Mud On The Tires,” “Then” and “Alcohol.”

The complete track list for Hits Alive follows:
Disc 1 (Studio Recordings):
1. Mud on the Tires
2. Ticks
3. Anything Like Me
4. The World
5. Little Moments
6. When I Get Where I’m Going (Featuring Dolly Parton)
7. Celebrity
8. Then
9. I’m Still a Guy
10. He Didn’t Have to Be
11. Alcohol
12. Whiskey Lullaby (Featuring Alison Krauss)
13. We Danced
14. Online

Disc 2 (Live Cuts):
1. Water
2. American Saturday Night
3. Waitin’ on a Woman
4. I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)
5. Mud on the Tires
6. She’s Everything
7. Time Warp
8. Letter to Me
9. Then
10. Alcohol
11. Online (Reprise)

Leave me a comment and let me know what Brad Paisley song is even better when you see him perform it live in concert! And be sure to check out some behind the scenes interview clips with Brad on his current H2O Tour »

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Brad Paisley photo by Kurt Markus, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Years ago, Dolly Parton laughed off the interior decorator mantra “less is more.”

“More is more!” she insisted.

Apparently, Dolly’s “When I Get Where I’m Going” duet partner, Brad Paisley, is in complete agreement — at least when it comes to best-of albums. He’s planning to release his first greatest-hits package Nov. 2, and it’ll include two discs that knit a couple of ideas together. Hits Alive will have one CD of studio recordings and a second disc that features nothing but hits, all of them recorded live.

The first single from Hits Alive, “Anything Like Me,” was released to radio stations Monday. It also appeared on the American Saturday Night album, and it’s the fifth song from that project released as a single.

Brad co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards in November with Carrie Underwood each of the last two years, and on both occasions, he put out new product in the week leading up to the show. In 2008, he released his instrumental-themed album Play on Nov. 4, and last year he shipped “American Saturday Night” to radio as a single on Nov. 2.

Does the Hits Alive release date signify he’ll be back as host at the CMAs once again on Nov. 10? Thus far, nobody’s said a thing.

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Lady Antebellum on stage at the Ryman Auditorium during the Music City Keep On Playin' benefit concert. Photo credit: Photo by Ed Rode/edrode.biz.

The stars came out in a big way, as did a number of companies and the American people when GAC presented Music City Keep On Playin’ — A Benefit For Flood Relief.

Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley were among the artists who delivered nearly 20 songs during Sunday’s three-hour live special from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event raised more than $1.7 million as of midnight CT and counting.

Music City Keep On Playin’ was the first national fundraiser organized to aid victims of a devastating flood that engulfed much of Nashville two weeks ago. In a scant 48 hours, the city took in over 13 inches of rain, more than the Middle Tennessee ground could absorb. The Cumberland River swelled over its banks, damaging some of the city’s landmarks, including the Grand Ole Opry House, LP Field, Bridgestone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Rushing tides carried cars along dangerous streams, one portable school building was washed down the interstate, and more than 1,000 water rescues were performed. Many residents, including Opry member Jeannie Seely, lost their homes. A few lost their lives. But the city came together, with many of its citizens visiting other neighborhoods to help complete strangers sort through what was left of their belongings.

It was “so beautiful to see how the city has just rallied together,” Lady A’s Hillary Scott said from the Ryman stage. “I know we will get back to the city that we once were. I know we will.”

Brad and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley — who co-hosted the special with “Desperate Housewives” actor and Nashville resident James Denton — kicked the night off with a $100,000 donation. Brad likewise chipped in a trio of songs — “Welcome To The Future,” “American Saturday Night” and a cover of Roger Miller’s “River In The Rain” — over the course of the evening, which also saw appearances by country stars Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Rodney Atkins and Randy Montana.

The show also folded in performances from artists that exemplified some of Music City’s stylistic range: pop singer Sheryl Crow, big-voiced gospel singer CeCe Winans, contemporary Christian artist Jaci Velasquez, Americana act Will Hoge and acoustic-blues performer Keb’ Mo’, one of Nashville’s newest residents.

Many of the songs took on new meaning during the evening. The opening line of Lady A’s “Need You Now,” with its reference to “picture-perfect memories scattered all around the floor,” easily reminded the listener of the many residents who lost all their family photos — every record of their personal history. Martina McBride’s “Anyway” — with its recognition that “one storm could come and blow it all away” — was inordinately apropos.

When they weren’t on stage, many of the stars took donations at the phone bank, where they were joined by the likes of Lorrie Morgan, Nicole Kidman, Billy Dean, Joey+Rory, Lee Roy Parnell, Dailey & Vincent, Julie Roberts, Marty Raybon, Whitney Duncan, Holly Williams, Bomshel, Katie Armiger, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and countless others.

The Ryman proved a symbolic home for the special. When the Grand Ole Opry House took in more than four feet of water, the stage was destroyed. But one part of the venue — a circle of wood that was transported from the Ryman when the Opry House was built in the early 1970s — survived the deluge and, once dried out, will return to its spot on a refurbished Opry House stage. The circle carries a huge amount of history. On that little piece of turf, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline made historic appearances in its original Ryman location. At the Opry House, it’s provided footing for such Opry stars as Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson.

With the Opry House under renovation, the radio show itself is rotating through other interim venues, including War Memorial Auditorium, Two Rivers Baptist Church and the Ryman.

“The Opry didn’t miss a beat,” GAC host Nan Kelley observed, “but we have so much more to go.”

Music City Keep On Playin’ — A Benefit For Flood Relief is still taking donations online at www.gactv.com/help or you can text GAC to 501501 on your mobile phone to donate $10.

If you missed the concert, look for it On Demand through your cable or satellite service through Saturday 5/22 (where available, check your  listings).

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Brad Paisley photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Country music insiders have long been able to measure the awards season by their mailbox, whether that meant snail mail or email. Members of the Academy of Country Music or Country Music Association — sometimes even likely members — could count on free CDs, fliers and emails with video links from artists’ representatives all trying to lock up a vote for the coveted trophies for their candidate.

The last few years, the ACM has thrown voting in the New Artist and Entertainer of the Year categories open to the fans (GACTV.com was a vehicle for the first round of fan voting for this year’s New Artist award), and plenty of artists and their reps have come up with ways to call attention to their candidate and essentially campaign for your vote.

Brad Paisley, who’s one of eight finalists for Entertainer, is not one of them.

“I’m uncomfortable campaigning, to be honest with you,” he said before his recent No. 1 party for “Welcome To The Future” and “American Saturday Night.” “I don’t like that part of it. I understand that people love to get involved, and that’s cool that they can. I just — vote for who you want. If you’re happy with somebody’s show last year and you had a great time, vote for them. If that’s me, that’s great. And if not, I will stand up and clap for whoever wins.”

Make no mistake: Brad will certainly be there. He’s got four nominations in all, and he’s scheduled to perform at the April 18 awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, then return the next night to take part in the taping of an ACM-related CBS special celebrating Brooks & Dunn. Whether he wins anything or not, Brad’s looking forward to the big event, which carries less pressure, he says, than November’s CMA Awards in Nashville.

“The ACMs, they’re in Vegas, first of all, so they’re a little more of the show where what happens there stays there,” he said. “You can walk through the casino and see Kix Brooks throwin’ down, you know… The CMA Awards are sort of the night of the year where everybody’s gettin’ dressed up, our wives are at home getting gussied up and there’s a limo picking them up and the rest of us are up there rehearsing and they bring them in and everyone’s decked out and then we all go to our respective parties and then home. [In Vegas] it’s a party the whole time, and it’s a little more light-hearted.”

Brad’s not the only one who’ll be in on the party. Reba McEntire hosts the awards at 8 p.m. ET April 18 on CBS. Some of the other artists slated to perform include Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins and Carrie Underwood.

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Brad Paisley photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Sometimes it’s intended, sometimes it’s not. But Brad Paisley’s career seems to be in sync with the world around him.

Monday was a particularly good example. He announced details of his upcoming H2O World Tour on what was officially recognized as World Water Day. He also held a No. 1 party in Franklin, Tenn., at Nucci’s Italian Ice, cleverly dovetailing the event with the “Italian ice” reference in the chorus of “American Saturday Night,” one of two songs being honored at the party.

The other No. 1 song demonstrated even greater synchronicity, though Brad had little control over the latest advance in the storyline. “Welcome To The Future” was inspired in November 2008 by the election of Barack Obama, when Brad just happened to be in Times Square, where he witnessed a huge celebration. The first time he performed the song live was last July at the White House with President Obama just a few feet in front of him. On the morning of Monday’s No. 1 party, the front page of The Tennessean trumpeted the news about Obama’s signature policy: “Congress passes health-care bill.”

“Don’t tie me to healthcare!” Brad laughed of the coincidence.

But his timing is clearly excellent. Particularly with “Welcome To The Future,” Brad’s had a really fortuitous connection to the events of the day. Whether or not he agrees with the administration, his song — which recognized the progress of a nation electing its first African-American leader — has remained incredibly relevant, even when it wasn’t intended.

“As far as [I’m] tied to current events, I definitely have synchronicity, but that’s not by design,” he said. “I don’t know how these things happen to me. I’ve always had that kinda life. I’m just, in many ways, Forrest Gump. There I am standing there, I’m playin’ ping pong one minute, and the next I’m being recognized for something stupid, and I don’t know how or why — or that I deserve it. But don’t go thinkin’ of me as one of these celebrities that think they know it all, ‘cause I don’t.”

In fact, like a lot of Americans, Brad doesn’t know what to think about the controversial legislation.

“I hear one side argue this and one side argue that,” he said, “and they both sound right.”

Brad’s been around the leaders on both sides. In fact, in January, he attended a black-tie Washington event, the Alfalfa Club Dinner, as a guest of former Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, rubbing elbows with politicians from both sides of the aisle: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Colin Powell, Rahm Emmanuel and John McCain.

“What was really interesting,” Brad reflected, “was they all get along at these events! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, ‘cause really, when you watch the pundits and you watch the right and the left just [butting heads], there’s this feeling that they must really wanna kill each other and beat each other up for real. Then you go to an event like that, and they’re goin’, ‘How’s it goin’?’ ‘Hey, come over here; I want you to meet so and so!’ I’m like, ‘You guys talk!?’”

Talking at Monday’s actual No. 1 presentation was surprisingly kept to a minimum. ASCAP, one of three American performing rights organizations, held the event, with plaques handed out to Brad, Arista Records, producer Frank Rogers, a cadre of music publishing companies and the songs’ co-writers: Chris DuBois, who co-authored “Welcome To The Future” with Brad; and Ashley Gorley and Kelley Lovelace, who took part in “American Saturday Night.”

Both songs have a patriotic component to them, which only underscores Brad’s ability to make things fit together.

“I’m lookin’ at the positivity, the hope, the glimmers that maybe some things are going the right way,” he said. “Maybe some things aren’t, but [I’m] writing about some positive things about living in this country. It’s still the best place, I think, to be born, to live, to have these opportunities. There’s a reason so many people try to come here.”

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Miranda Lambert photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Figures don’t lie, but liars can figure. So they say. And “White Liar” figured prominently in the annual Nashville Scene country music critics poll, taking the scribes’ honor as the top single of 2009. It’s one of three categories Miranda Lambert dominated in a vote that does its best to tab quality over sheer sales volume.

Miranda’s Revolution, the disc that spawned “Liar,” was cited as the Top Album in the poll, compiled from rankings supplied by 77 country journalists. Accordingly, Miranda earned Top Female Vocalist in the process.

It’s the second time in three years that Miranda has led the proceedings. In 2008, she won in four categories: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend took album, “Famous In A Small Town” nabbed Single, and she was voted Top Female as well. She also won Artist of the Year in ’08, though that honor went this time around to Brad Paisley.

Brad also collected the 2010 nod for Best Male, while American Saturday Night finished No. 2 among the critics’ top albums and “Welcome To The Future” ranked No. 3 among singles.

Sugarland sat atop the list of Best Duos and Groups, Jamey Johnson was cited as Best Songwriter, the Zac Brown Band scored Best New Act, Taylor Swift collected Best Live Act and Dolly Parton’s Dolly boxed set won Best Reissue.

A complete list can be found at the Nashville Scene’s website.

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On Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Brad Paisley performed for the President, First Lady and family, members of Congress and White House staff in the historic East Room of the White House. Photo credit Ben Enos.

Tuesday is Election Day in many parts of the U.S., and the week is a monumental anniversary as well: Barack Obama was voted the nation’s first African-American president on Nov. 4, 2008.

That same date marked the release of Brad Paisley’s Play album, and he couldn’t have created better timing if he’d planned it. He was in New York to promote the CD the day the nation went to the polls, and he witnessed hysterical celebration in Times Square. That helped inspire his song “Welcome To The Future,” which hit No. 1 this anniversary week in Country Aircheck.

“Welcome To The Future” had even better timing this summer. Brad performed the song live for the first time in the East Room of the White House with Obama sitting just a few feet away. Neither the president nor his staff were aware of the song when Brad was invited to perform.

Brad didn’t know when he started writing it that “Future” would be a single, and he didn’t know the rest of its destiny either — that he would play it for the man who inspired it or that it would become his 12th No. 1 single. And, as things go, it’s just as well.

“If you had made me aware of that when we were writing it, it would’ve been a different song,” Brad says. “It would have been very hard to focus thinking about performing that in the East Room.”

Whatever statement the election made about the red state-blue state divide, Brad felt the real focus of the song was the social progress he’s witnessed.

“I caught a little bit of flack from some people that didn’t quite understand, that thought for a second that maybe I was getting political with this song,” he concedes. “This isn’t that. This is my tribute to the emotions of Nov. 4th and that, just that verse, regardless of where you stand, to me, a year prior to the election, comments were made among friends and people that said to me, ‘I kinda like that guy… but I just don’t think this country’s ready to elect, you know, essentially a minority.’ And on Nov. 4th we proved that we were willing to sort of put things aside.”

“Welcome To The Future” makes its biggest impact by drawing a line from Obama’s victory to Martin Luther King and to Rosa Parks, the African-American woman who refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus in 1955. Brad’s song isn’t the only current one to reference them. Tim McGraw’s “Southern Voice,” which hit the Top 15 this week, namechecks them both.

Meanwhile, Brad continues his impeccable timing. Just as “Future” hits the top this week, Brad released his new single, “American Saturday Night,” to radio stations on Monday. And all this activity rolls him toward next week’s 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards. He’ll join Carrie Underwood as co-host of the Nov. 11 show, where he’s the top prospect with seven nominations.

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