Brad Paisley is heading to Washington, D.C., where he's been asked to participate in the recently announced White House Music Series. Hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama, the goal of the series is to celebrate the arts and the importance of arts education. It was launched last month with a focus on jazz and will continue in the fall with classical music.On Tuesday, July 21, Brad and fellow Grand Ole Opry member Alison Krauss will participate in an educational workshop with 120 middle and high school students from across the country - including 40 from Nashville.
Later that evening they'll have an audience with the President, First Lady, students, White House staff, and members of Congress in the historic East Room of the White House.
Brad is currently at the top of the country album charts with the just-released 'American Saturday Night.' In 2004, he and Alison Krauss won numerous awards for their collaboration on the song and video for their duet, 'Whiskey Lullaby.'
The CMA and GAC are among those helping to make the trip financially possible for the participating students.
Reader Comments(1 of 4)
feluther16at 7-15-2009
Oh, great. Obama is going to try to pretend to be a country music lover? Right!
lasty00at 7-16-2009
"...the goal of the series is to celebrate the arts and the importance of arts education".
Did you guys even bother to read the article before posting such stupid, hateful comments? If Paisley is currently at the top of the music charts, that means that SOMEONE is listening to his music and will be interested in what he is doing.
gsan201at 7-16-2009
lasty are you that big of an idiot to not realize he is just doing this to be among the stars and to also Promote himself as an everyman so more people will like him? IT is a publicty stunt paid for by the AMERICAN PEOPLE you fuc* ing idiot!! Obama says to aides "Wonder how many more of these gun toting country bumpkins I can trick into voting for me,They are easily convinced and don't realize I hate their $%^& selves. LASTY go back and read some of Obama's Racist and sexist comments over the last year or so and then you can talk about others.Quit being the typical Hypocrite that the far left are Always guilty of. You must believe if the MEDIA don't repeat it over and over again it didn't happen. OK BART SIMPSON Rigtttttttttttttt!!!!
kathyat 7-16-2009
Can you read? Try again. They are encouraging people to learn about AMERICAN music. Is country not American?
nodramaorbaggageat 7-16-2009
Now you might think "gsan201" is a bigot or a racist by his unintelligent rant, but you would be wrong. The actual word to describe "gsan201" would be, fool.
Apparently, you are unaware that every President for 30 years has invited all types of musical acts to the White House. George W. Bush invited James Brown and i don't remember too many people getting so upset about that, because we all know how much GW was a lover of soul music.
Now as to all these racist and sexist remarks, please be so kind to list them. It's astounding that people claim to have multiple examples of wrongdoing by President Obama, but never actually post anything.
Since you want to get into the whole idea of character, then please explain to me and everyone here, how do you support a "family values" man like John McCain, who just happened to cheat on his first wife. A loyal woman who stayed true to him while he was a POW, helped him recover once freed and used her connections to help his political career. So how did Senator John McCain thank her, he cheated on her with multiple women, including a 25 year old woman who just happens to be his current wife, Cindy McCain.
Yea i can see how Senator McCain is such a role model.
Carolat 7-16-2009
I hope they turned it down.
nodramaorbaggageat 7-16-2009
It's good to know that bigot's are limited to just posting on the Fox News website.
As someone who works in the country music industry, you would be surprised as too how many country music people actually voted for the President Obama. It's a lot higher then you think. Didn't you notice, that only a few of our most outspoken stars campaigned for McCain.
The only thing that matters is i appreciate his respect for music and wants all genre's included, it shouldn't matter if he is a fan. I would be more offended if President Obama didn't invite anyone from the country world.
As far as wanting them turning down an invitation to the White House, are you really that stupid. Do you even know how that would play in the Press that 2 white, well know country music stars decided to turn down an invitation from the first black president. Yea, that would go over really well.
I suggest everyone just grow up and relax. For god sakes, it's music education for students.
liveisaiah61at 7-16-2009
You are an idiot and most likely a liar nodramaorbaggage bringing you "drama and baggage" to this message board. What a stupid thing to say "if they turned it down" There's nothing like being forced into doing something for fear of being labled a racist or a bigot. There was nothing bigotted in any of the two comments. Just because one dislikes president Obama or his policies doesn't make one a bigot. I am sick and tired of the way people are labled that way for free thinking. Wow I will mourn the loss of our country to people like you.
nodramaorbaggageat 7-16-2009
It just amazes me how people can read something and totally miss the point.
First, getting invited to the White House to teach and celebrate Country Music to school children is an honor, regardless of your like or dislike of the President. Which is the point that both "feluther16" and "Carol" missed. It was not about whether President Obama liked country music.
Second, when someone clearly states that the President invited the country stars so he can pretend to like the music or that the music stars should turn the offer down for no reason, makes you ignorant, which in turn makes you bigot.
Third, this is why you should read slowly and out loud "liveisaiah61" if you don't understand something. I never said that the previous comments were racist or that the posters were racist. I posted that what they wrote was an bigoted opinion. A bigot uses their ignorance to say or do something against another individual. A racist does the same thing out of pure hate. There are too many people who use the word "racist" without really understanding what it actually means.
Fourth, did you even bother read your own post. How can you be so sick and tired of people like me who uses labels, when you wrote that i was an "idiot" and a "liar" in the first line. Do you even understand what the word hypocrisy means. Pot meet Kettle.
Finally, much of the country's perception comes from the press, mainstream media and now the web. Turning down an offer to play for some kids at the White House would be news, especially if all the country stars did it. I'm sure there was a time when you could turn down an offer to the White House and you would be lucky if someone on a network news program might mention it. However, millions of people now have access and would post it everywhere and then you get millions of comments on that story. Just ask the Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith. Both said something, it got way overblown and it cost them revenue. I never said it was right, it's just how things are.
Rebat 7-16-2009
" For god sakes, it's music education for students. "
And what pagan god is that that you refer to in lowercase?
xxforgetmenotat 7-16-2009
the two readers above obviously can't be happy for anyone else, so their tactic is to troll around on boards like this with their negativity. most likely close-minded conservatives. so sad. boo hoo!
BabieNellaat 7-16-2009
There are several BLACK people put the that are country LOVERS...My UNCLE IS THE NUM ONE BLACK YOLDER...So get of OBAMA's Nuts and leave him alone..If OUR BLACK PRESIDENT wanna invite a country singer into to white house so what.. Don't be jealous cause it ain't ur sorrow hatin behind...
mattmeat 7-16-2009
No doubt about it. My two step-sisters are black and they looove country. Don't pay any attention to these ignorant people who don't have lives.
STEPHEN SCHAEFERat 7-16-2009
MAYBE THEY COULD SING A SONG TO THE GREAT ONE ABOUT AMERICANS APOLIGIZING TO THE NATION FOR ELECTING HIM
giarc1030at 7-16-2009
I'm going out on a limb here and guess Ted Nugent wasn't invited