A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.

B次元官网网址淭he world felt like it was in a new place that it hadnB次元官网网址檛 been in decades,B次元官网网址� the three-time Grammy winner recalls.

On Friday, the one-year anniversary of the warB次元官网网址檚 start, Paisley is releasing a new song called B次元官网网址淪ame Here,B次元官网网址� featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly about his country and people.

The song is PaisleyB次元官网网址檚 first from his new record, B次元官网网址淪on of the Mountains,B次元官网网址� to be released later this year on Universal Music Group Nashville.

The West Virginia native wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits B次元官网网址淭he WorldB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淧erfect StormB次元官网网址�) and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. ItB次元官网网址檚 a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language.

While it doesnB次元官网网址檛 mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about UkrainiansB次元官网网址� desire for freedom, adding B次元官网网址淭here is no distance between our two countries in such values.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just no differences,B次元官网网址� Paisley told The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淵ou can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.B次元官网网址�

Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for UkraineB次元官网网址檚 United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time for other fundraising efforts to assist Ukrainians. But even he thought it would be a long shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for UkraineB次元官网网址檚 military and recovery efforts.

B次元官网网址淚 think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,B次元官网网址� Paisley said of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comedian before becoming president.

B次元官网网址淗e can give as many speeches as he can give, but itB次元官网网址檚 a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.B次元官网网址�

Zelenskyy didnB次元官网网址檛 just sign off on the song he also suggested some changes to it, Paisley said.

PaisleyB次元官网网址檚 royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, he said. Using his platform to advocate for causes important to him has always been part of his career, whether it was opening a free grocery store in Nashville with his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or fighting hunger by donating 1 million meals during the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to sleep at night if I didnB次元官网网址檛 sort of swing for the fence with things like this,B次元官网网址� Paisley said. B次元官网网址淔or me, IB次元官网网址檓 happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter thatB次元官网网址檚 very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I donB次元官网网址檛 know if youB次元官网网址檇 call it risky, but itB次元官网网址檚 more like itB次元官网网址檚 bigger than me.B次元官网网址�

Paisley brings his passion on stage during live shows. HeB次元官网网址檚 been changing the lyrics to his hit song B次元官网网址淎merican Saturday Night,B次元官网网址� for instance, to replace a reference to the U.S.S.R. to B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.B次元官网网址�

The new record will be his debut on UMG since moving from SonyB次元官网网址檚 Arista label, and he said B次元官网网址淪ame HereB次元官网网址� reflects the kinds of big universal themes on it.

B次元官网网址淲e do deal with stuff going on in the world,B次元官网网址� Paisley said. B次元官网网址淗ow do you sing about things that are truly big B次元官网网址� a big deal right now B次元官网网址� that also donB次元官网网址檛 feel like maybe theyB次元官网网址檙e the type of thing that you would be singing about typically? And yeah, on this album I have kind of really dug deep and tried to say something.B次元官网网址�

Paisley, who has visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said heB次元官网网址檚 been invited to visit Ukraine, which heB次元官网网址檇 like to do. In the meantime, he hopes the songB次元官网网址檚 message will bolster the country now facing down year two of the war.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where it gets really rewardingB次元官网网址� feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,B次元官网网址� Paisley said.

B次元官网网址斺赌�

By Kristin M. Hall

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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