Brad Paisley is hosting an ABC special on himself tonight, December 3, at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST. The hour-long program, titled Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special, will “showcase the energy of Music City from Nashville’s iconic War Memorial Auditorium through a combination of Paisley’s signature humor, unexpected surprises, heartfelt field pieces, and rousing musical performances,” according to the ABC website.
In preparation for the special, fans might be curious about Paisley’s personal life. Paisley has been married to his wife Kimberly Williams since 2003, and the couple has two sons – William Huckleberry and Jasper Warren.
Here’s what you need to know about Paisley’s wife, children and family:
Paisley First Spotted His Wife in the Movie Father of the Bride
Paisley first fell for Williams when he saw her in the film Father of the Bride, according to Good Housekeeping. Paisley was 19-years-old when he glimpsed his future wife while out on a date with another woman; he decided to take his date to see Father of the Bride, which was Williams’ film debut.
A few years later, Paisley’s girlfriend had left him for his best friend and he was feeling miserable and alone. He was 23 and living in Nashville at the time and decided to go see the sequel to the movie on his own. While watching Williams on-screen, he thought she seemed like a great person with good qualities.
“She seems like a great girl — smart and funny and all those things that are so hard to find,” the country singer said, according to Good Housekeeping.
He Cast Williams in a Music Video for a Song He Wrote About the Film
Fast-forward five years, Paisley’s career was taking off and he had just released his album Part II. The album featured songs about his ex-girlfriend, including a song about the film Father of the Bride, so while Paisley was figuring out who to cast for the music video, Williams came to mind.
“It felt natural to ask her to be in it,” he told Good Housekeeping. “Even though I didn’t know if she was married, divorced, or just out of rehab.” Paisley decided to take a chance and reached out to Williams about the music video, and the two quickly hit it off.
According to the publication, after chatting on the phone for several weeks, Paisley told Williams he was coming to Los Angeles to visit and she didn’t hesitate to ask him to dinner. “He was such a polite Southern gentleman,” she said of her future husband. “I was getting impatient.”
The Two Have Been Married Since 2003
After their first dinner date, Paisley and Williams knew they had something special and the two started dating exclusively. Several months later, Paisley decided to take Williams on a walk down the Venice Beach pier, where he talked about how they were meant to be together and he vowed that he would never hurt her. Six months later, he took Williams down to the same pier and surprised her with an engagement ring.
The couple was engaged for six months before they tied the knot. According to Good Housekeeping, since the two both attended separate churches, both of their pastors co-officiated the wedding. The couple was married on March 15, 2003.
They Welcomed Their First Son in 2007 & Named Him After Huckleberry Finn
The happy couple welcomed their first child to the world on February 22, 2007. According to Country Rebel, they named him after Mark Twain’s character Huck Finn from the novel of the same name, Huckleberry Finn. Paisley and Williams call him “Huck” for short.
“He’s William Huckleberry Paisley, as in Huckleberry Finn — a reference to a spirit of adventure I hope he embodies,” Paisley said of his first son. “I can see him now — out playing in the woods, taking chances.“
Jasper Warren, Their Second Son, Was Named After Paisley’s Grandfather
Their second son, Jasper Warren, was born in Nashville on April 17, 2009. The couple decided to pay tribute to Paisley’s grandfather, who gave Paisley his first guitar and encouraged him to pursue a music career, according to People.
Tune in tonight at 8/7c on ABC to catch Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special, and don’t forget to check out this author’s profile for more entertainment news and TV coverage.
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