Brad Paisley to Release First Book

It seems that anything Brad Paisley touches easily turns to gold – such as his seventeen No. 1 hits, with the last thirteen being consecutively. On the heels of his latest album, American Saturday Night – which was acclaimed “The Top Album of 2009” across the genres by Time Magazine – and his top rated H2O Would Tour, Paisley is set to release his first book.

 

The Diary of a Player is to be co-written by Paisley and David Wild, who is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and an Emmy-nominated television writer and producer. The story tells how Paisley became who he is today. He sums it up in the liner notes for the instrumental album he wrote, Play:

 

“When I was eight I got a gift from my grandpa. No coincidence that around that time I also got an identity. See, no matter how I have changed, learned and evolved as a person, the guitar has been a major part of it, and really the only constant. A crutch, a shrink, a friend, love interest, parachute, flying machine, soapbox, canvas, liability, investment, jackpot, tease, a sage, a gateway, an addiction, a recovery, backstage pass, pickup line, weapon of revenge, a makeover, compass, target, icebreaker, a temptress, a church, a voice, veil, armor and lifeline. My grandpa knew it could be many of these things for me, but mostly he just wanted me to never be alone. He said if I learned to play, anything would be manageable, and life would be richer. You can get through some real tough moments with that guitar on your knee. When life gets intense, there are people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, watch TV, pray, cry, sleep, and so on. I play.”

 

The book is intended to be Paisley’s salute to the guitarists who shaped his life through their musical talents across country, blues and rock & roll. It is set to be published with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and released in May 2011.

 

In the meantime, if you can’t get enough of Paisley and his guitar, be on the lookout for his H2O World Tour in a city near you. His next album, Hits Alive, is to hit stores Nov. 2. Also, be sure to watch the CMA Awards on Nov. 10, which will be co-hosted by Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Paisley is also nominated for Entertainer of the Year as well as Male Vocalist and Video (“Water”).