Brad Paisley Honors Alabama’s Legacy With “Old Alabama” Tribute On “CMT Giants”

Do You Remember When Brad Paisley Released A Song With Alabama?

Legendary country music group Alabama got some well-deserved recognition on a CMT Giants TV special featuring performances from Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Jamey Johnson, Riley Green, Brad Paisley, and more. Alabama’s Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry also performed, singing “Mountain Music” and “My Home’s In Alabama.”

Alabama’s CMT Giants special was filmed at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Nashville’s Belmont University in January 2024. The special aired on TV months later, on August 15, 2024.

The production also served as a tribute to Alabama’s Jeff Cook, who passed away in 2022.

Brad Paisley delivered one of the most meaningful performances of the night. He performed his own song, “Old Alabama,” which he collaborated on with Alabama back in 2011.

During the writing process, Paisley thought “Mountain Music” would fit well within “Old Alabama.” Instead of simply sampling the song, he asked the band if they’d like to be featured on it.

They agreed, and Randy Owen helped Paisley co-write the track with Chris DuBois and Dave Turnbull. The song mentions many of Alabama’s iconic tunes, including “Love in the First Degree,” “Tennesee River,” and “Dixieland Delight.” Owen, Cook, and Gentry chimed in on the song’s bridge, singing part of “Mountain Music.”

Paisley told radio station 106.5 WYRK that working with Alabama on the track “was one of the most mind-blowing experiences of [his] life.”

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Paisley and Alabama released their collaboration in March 2011. Fans loved the song and sent it to the #1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. This was Alabama’s first time scoring a chart-topping hit since 1993’s “Reckless.” The song also ranked at #41 on the year-end Hot Country Songs chart for 2011.

Additionally, “Old Alabama” claimed the #38 spot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also reached the #1 spot on the country chart in Canada.

The track has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA for the sale of one million units.

Brad Paisley Tips His Hat To Alabama With Performance On CMT Giants

So when it came time for Paisley to pay tribute to Alabama on CMT Giants, it only made sense that he sang “Old Alabama.”

You won’t want to miss out on his epic guitar solo!

Check out the video below to watch Brad Paisley honor Alabama’s legacy with his performance on CMT Giants.