Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley join Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country in an interview to chat about their song “Freedom Was A Highway.” Paisley also recites his favorite lyrics from his new single “City of Music.” Listen to the full interview with Brad Paisley and Jimmie Allen this Friday at 5am LA / 7am Nashville / 8am NYC or anytime on-demand here.
Jimmie Allen on writing “Freedom Was A Highway,” his duet with Brad Paisley
When I was writing it, I was singing about the streets I grew up on in Delaware, driving around when I first learned how to drive before I had my license and I was serious on my first crush. And I just wanted something that felt like home to me. And I just went with it. I didn’t realize people would be into it as much as they’re starting to show they are. Typically, I just write songs that I like and put them out and hopefully they land where they’re supposed to land.
Jimmie and Brad on getting together to play and sing with friends and fellow musicians in Nashville
Jimmie Allen: I remember Brad had texted me one day, I was at the Opry, he said, “Hey, how’s the Opry? Come to the house, Darius is coming.” So I went over there and Darius was there, Brad and Tim and I had just missed Bill Shatner, AKA William Shatner.
Brad Paisley: There’s some videos that exist of us all singing like “Family Tradition” that we posted. Me, Curtis, and you and Tim and what a great group. I mean, that’s the thing about country music, it’s a lot of the time what you want it to be, which is we’re all friends and we want to play together.
Brad Paisley: There’s some videos that exist of us all singing like “Family Tradition” that we posted. Me, Curtis, and you and Tim and what a great group. I mean, that’s the thing about country music, it’s a lot of the time what you want it to be, which is we’re all friends and we want to play together.
Brad Paisley on the new tour with Jimmie Allen
Brad Paisley: I’ve never had a tour with the person I had a duet out with.
Jimmie Allen: Oh, really?
Brad Paisley: No. I mean, when Carrie and I had “Remind Me,” she wasn’t on tour with me anymore. She was way bigger than that. And it was like the same with I’ve had songs with Dierks, I’ve had songs with Alan Jackson, but I’ve never had them out on the road while I had that. And in this case, while it’s rising like this, to walk out there and we’ve got great entrances planned for you, you know what I mean?
Jimmie Allen: Yeah.
Brad Paisley: We’re going to shoot him out of a cannon for the song, which hopefully you land by the first line.
