Brad Paisley returned to his home state of West Virginia today to participate in the grand re-opening and dedication of Herbert Hoover High School in Elkview after the historic flood of 2016 that destroyed the school. Brad toured the school, participated in the dedication ribbon cutting ceremony, attended the football scrimmage (against his alma mater John Marshall High School) and performed after the game in the stadium’s end zone.
“This is the nicest high school I have ever seen,” Brad shared at the ribbon cutting. “I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see something that devastating and that terrible turned into something so inspiring. I think an enormous gift has been given to the students of this school. High school can be a very difficult time in a student’s life because it’s filled with trivialities. You’re worried about how you’ll fit in, about what you are wearing, if you’re popular and doing well in classes. But what you’ve been given here is something much larger. It’s been a glimpse of the real world and the wonderful things that human beings can do for one another in the face of disaster. That should over shadow all the trivialities of high school for you. And never lose sight that good people came together to build this for you and your future.”
In 2016, Brad toured the hard-hit area soon after the flood with West Virginia Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Capito and Save The Children’s West Virginia Director. He created a Go-Fund-Me account that collected more than one million dollars with an initial donation of $100,000 from his Paisley Foundation to help the devastated area.
As an advocate for West Virginia Brad has participated in numerous charitable efforts in the state over the last 20 years including annual scholarships to a music or arts student at his alma mater, contributions to The Easter Seals Foundation of Wheeling, purchasing books for area schools and other funding support for flood relief over the years and more.
The title of Brad’s forth coming album, “Son of The Mountains,” is an ode to his home state and the place that shaped him.
About BRAD PAISLEY:
Brad Paisley has earned his place in country music history as one of the genre’s most talented and decorated male solo artists. For more than 20 years, his songwriting and unmatched showmanship have won him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards including a highly coveted Entertainer of the Year honor and recognition as the most successful CMA Award co-host in history, alongside Carrie Underwood, for 11 consecutive years. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley has written 21 of his 25 No. 1 hits, and in 2008 became the first artist to achieve 10 consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles. The superstar’s past works have amassed nearly 5 billion career streams.
