Brad Paisley received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award for spreading country music beyond the borders of the United States.
It was on the final night of the CMA Music Festival‘s final night when Keith Urban (above on left) and CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern (above on right) met up with Brad (above in middle) backstage to present him with the award.
“Brad is such a tremendous ambassador for Country Music around the world,” Sarah said, adding; “His undeniable talent, wit, and charm transcend borders and speak to the heart of the format – in any language.”
After receiving the honor Brad said; “I think Country Music works as one of the best ambassador type things you can do in an art form. When you send art forms of music overseas, it’s obviously something people flip out over and love, but I don’t know if it reflects real life like our format does. Any time you see people in Sweden loving Country songs and what they say and buying into what we are as artists, they’re seeing the real America I think.” He then added with his well known sense of humor; “In that sense we have an obligation as a format to try and get this everywhere we can so they don’t think we all wear spandex.”
The award was previously known as the International Touring Artist Award. The CMA International Artist Achievement Award is used to recognize outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of Country Music outside the United States.
This is not the first time that Brad has earned this honor. He was given the award in 2011. Since then, he has continued to spread country music awareness and development around the world including headlining the C2C Festival in London and Dublin in 2014, recording the special “Brad Paisley & Friends” for BBC Radio 2 and then heading out to headline shows in Norway and Sweden.
The Country Music Association continues to strive to spread country music around the world; “Through international honors and events including CMA World GlobaLive! and the expansion of the CMA Songwriters Series in Canada, Dublin, London, and Paris, CMA seeks to recognize and empower its international membership and Country Music fans globally.”
Congratulations to Brad Paisley on the well-deserved honor of receiving the CMA International Artist Achievement Award and thanks for being such an amazing ambassador of country music.
By: Buck Stevens
