“I feel safest playing on a night like this. God bless you for being the first ones on the scene every time.” Brad Paisley said as he addressed the NRG Stadium crowd’s first responders Monday night at the Houston Rodeo.
Paisley has become a staple of RodeoHouston with this being his 17th time taking the star-shaped spinning stage since his 2001 debut. He’s dropped 12 albums since then and in 2023 he was even inducted into the Houston Rodeo’s “Star Trail of Fame”, sitting along names like George Strait, Elvis Presley, and a couple of his fellow performers in this year’s Rodeo lineup with Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn.
This now-latest appearance of Brad Paisley at RodeoHouston saw him headlining the First Responders Day, which was only fitting.
The West Virginia-born singer’s father and brother-in-law are both firefighters and showing his respect for them and all the other first responders in the world is something Paisley has never shied away from — including writing a song for the Disney movie Planes: Fire & Rescue. Most recently, he took part in a performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards that paid tribute to the city of Los Angeles and first responders after the wildfire devastation.
“We’re going to do this cover for all of you who get here first!” he yelled as George Strait’s song “The Fireman” played. “God bless you guys and girls who do this.”
The Star Trail of Fame inductee made it a memorable night for more than just the First Responders though and covered more than just George Strait.He performed a cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain” and as has become his usual practice, grabbed a fan’s phone from the crowd, read her Instagram and encouraged the crowd to give her a follow.
“For all you people who want someone interesting to follow, here’s someone!” Paisley said. He then posted a selfie with the crowd to her page with the caption “Sexiest man alive” and for people who were keeping score, her following more than doubled over within five minutes of the shoutout.
Paisley left the stage and onto the dirt several times, playing his guitar and singing to fans as he made his way down the barricade and high-fived people as he went.
“How’s everybody out there with the dirty boots, you, okay?” He said to the standing-section that was field-level. “Watch out for the shit!”
Paisley’s fun didn’t stop with the crowd though.
“I got a band with me and these guys have been with me for a long time, they make way too much. We’re going to make them earn it tonight.” He said as he looked back at his band on stage. “Let’s see how fast they can play.”
The “Who can play it faster” competition went on for several minutes and featured some all-time shredding from Paisley that was almost matched by his counterparts, and though the competition had no declared winner, it had the crowd’s ear.
The track list for the night stretched across the Grammy Award winning singer’s discography, with the before-mentioned covers being a bonus. He opened with the songs “Ticks” and “Online” from his 2007 album 5th Gear and went back even further with fan favorite “She’s Everything.”
The night closed out with recent hits “Mud on the Tires” and “Alcohol” from his latest album Song Still Sings and Paisley showed his appreciation for the crowd once more before stepping into the back of the star-stamped pickup truck.
Set List
Ticks
Online
Perfect Storm
Love Boat Theme / Water
Waitin’ On A Woman / Then
River Bank
Last Time for Everything / Purple Rain
Mountain Music / Old Alabama
The Nervous Breakdown
Still A Guy
The Fireman (George Strait cover)
Wrapped Around
The World
She’s Everything
I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)
Mud On the Tires
Alcohol