On This Day in 2009, Brad Paisley Performed a Timely New Song at the White House

On this day (July 21) in 2009, Brad Paisley was one of a handful of artists to participate in the White House Music Series. At the time, he had just released his No. 1 album American Saturday Night, which contained the timely hit single “Welcome to the Future.” He performed the song, among others, for the most powerful people in the United States.

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In July 2009, Paisley, Charley Pride, and Alison Krauss and Union Station took the stage in the East Room in the White House to perform short sets for an audience of government officials. The audience contained then-President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, White House staff, and members of Congress.

[RELATED: Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss Go Back to the 90s With “Whiskey Lullaby” During NBC’s ‘Opry 100: A Live Celebration’]

Paisley opened the show with “American Saturday Night” before Krauss and her legendary band took the stage. They performed “Let Me Touch You for a While,” “Man of Constant Sorrow,” and “Every Time You Say Goodbye.” Then, Pride took the stage to perform “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and “High on the Mountain of Love” before Paisley took the stage for a three-song set. He started with “Then,” and invited Krauss back to the stage for “Whiskey Lullaby” before finishing with “Welcome to the Future.”

Brad Paisley Recalls Performing “Welcome to the Future” at the White House

After performing at the White House, Brad Paisley wrote about the evening for CNN. In the blog post, Paisley revealed that he had been to the White House “five or six times” before performing. “It was always for some event. ‘Hey, there’s a reception. Come eat some finger foods, and look around and be in awe like everybody else,” he recalled. When he finally got an invitation to come perform a few songs in the East Room, his response was immediate. “Yes! More than yes. I’m flooded. Why?”

“On Tuesday night, I got to perform four songs, and I looked down at the president–who was sitting about 10 feet away from me at the time–and I said, ‘I think about my kids and this generation, and you are the first president they’re going to remember,’” he wrote.

“Being able to deliver that message personally to one of the people who ushered in this new era is really one of the most completely, artistically satisfying moments I’ve ever had,” he said of performing “Welcome to the Future” for President Obama.

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