Young country music star Brad Paisley sounds like he's been around much longer than he has. The singer/songwriter has gained fans with his traditional production techniques and mature restraint, both of which set him apart from many of the glitzy pop-oriented acts dominating Nashville today. Brad has been playing guitar since his grandfather gave him one at age 8, and his mastery of the instrument is undeniable on instrumental tracks like "Time Warp"-he plays with a unique, warm twang that piers would be hard-pressed to imitate. He wrote his first song at 12, and he was contracted to EMI Music Publishing as a songwriter after graduating from Belmont University. The talented Paisley penned David Kersh's hit "Another You" and songs for Tracy Byrd and David Ball. In 1999 he made his first appearance as a singer at the legendary Grand Ole Opry music hall and also cut his first #1 hit, "He Didn't Have to Be" about a father and his stepson. The accompanying album, Who Needs Pictures, was the kind of breakthrough debut that most young musicians dream about. Follow-up singles included the title track,Me Neither and We Danced. Brad's 2005 smash, Time Well Wasted, is another grand slam with fans and critics. His lead-off single "Alcohol" puts a fresh up-tempo twist on a classic country music theme while his Alan Jackson duet "Out In the Parkin' Lot" keeps the sound rootsy and traditional. Another standout track is When I Get Where I'm Going, a spiritual duet with Nashville queen Dolly Parton. His latest record 5th Gear features Carrie Underwood on "Oh Love".