Brad Paisley backstage in the press room after winning Top Male Vocalist of the Year at the "42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards," Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Photo by David Vespie.
May 12, 2008 — Brad Paisley is in the running for four honors, including Entertainer of the Year, during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday. The trophies are nice, but Brad views them from the bigger picture, too: He recognizes they have a lot of value from the business side of the music industry.
"I like winning awards," he told the Copley News Service. "They’re extremely valuable over the course of one’s career. They can do so many different things for a performer. If you’re going through a lull in your career, winning a major award means you’re back and doing well. If you are already doing well and a rising star, a big award can raise awareness of your work, selling more records and raising your fees."
Brad’s become quite familiar with the various awards. He’s won nine trophies from the Country Music Association, seven from the ACM and one Grammy Award. As much as he likes the hardware, he doesn’t keep it around his own house.
"I don’t like reminders of the past all that much," he said. "Nor do I have time to dust or polish the statuettes, so my parents take care and display most of them at their house. Somehow they keep track of it all."
This Sunday’s awards will be telecast on CBS from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with the Entertainer of the Year trophy being voted on by the public for the first time. To cast a ballot for Brad — or one of his competitors: Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, George Strait or Keith Urban — visit acmcountry.com.