Brad Paisley Brings Heart, Humor, and Hitmaker Wisdom to American Idol as Guest Mentor
- All Country News
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Brad Paisley has always known how to steal a scene, sometimes with a searing guitar solo, sometimes with a perfectly timed punchline. This season, the three-time Grammy winner is bringing both to American Idol, stepping in as a guest mentor alongside Keke Palmer to help shape the show’s Top 20 hopefuls at a pivotal moment in their journey.
Paisley made his first splash in Monday night’s season premiere, returning to familiar ground in Nashville and, naturally, having a little fun while he was at it. During auditions held at his alma mater, Belmont University, Paisley couldn’t resist pranking longtime friend and frequent partner-in-crime Carrie Underwood, turning the moment into a reminder that Idol at its best balances heart, humor, and history. It was a full-circle scene: a country superstar back where his own musical foundation was laid, ribbing another Idol success story while the next generation waited nervously in the wings.
But the jokes give way to something deeper as the season rolls on. Paisley’s real impact arrives when the competition tightens and the margin for error shrinks. He’ll be featured prominently in Episode 908, Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii – Part 1, airing Monday, March 16, and Episode 909, Part 2, airing Monday, March 23. Set against the lush backdrop of Hawaii, the episodes promise a high-stakes crossroads for contestants and a master class from an artist who has built a career on blending virtuosity with vulnerability.
Paisley’s mentorship comes from lived experience: decades of hitmaking, relentless touring, and a rare ability to evolve without losing his voice. For contestants navigating the leap from raw talent to fully formed artist, his advice carries the weight of someone who has survived and thrived on the other side of that jump.
American Idol airs Mondays from 8–10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu. With Paisley in the mix, the show leans into what it does best, honoring the past, spotlighting the present, and nudging the future forward, one song at a time.
ALL COUNTRY NEWS
Country Music News & Entertainment
Comments