A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many people around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.

害羞草研究所淭he world felt like it was in a new place that it hadn害羞草研究所檛 been in decades,害羞草研究所� the three-time Grammy winner recalls.

On Friday, the one-year anniversary of the war害羞草研究所檚 start, Paisley is releasing a new song called 害羞草研究所淪ame Here,害羞草研究所� featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly about his country and people.

The song is Paisley害羞草研究所檚 first from his new record, 害羞草研究所淪on of the Mountains,害羞草研究所� to be released later this year on Universal Music Group Nashville.

The West Virginia native wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits 害羞草研究所淭he World害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淧erfect Storm害羞草研究所�) and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It害羞草研究所檚 a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language.

While it doesn害羞草研究所檛 mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians害羞草研究所� desire for freedom, adding 害羞草研究所淭here is no distance between our two countries in such values.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 just no differences,害羞草研究所� Paisley told The Associated Press. 害羞草研究所淵ou can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.害羞草研究所�

Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time for other fundraising efforts to assist Ukrainians. But even he thought it would be a long shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 military and recovery efforts.

害羞草研究所淚 think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,害羞草研究所� Paisley said of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comedian before becoming president.

害羞草研究所淗e can give as many speeches as he can give, but it害羞草研究所檚 a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.害羞草研究所�

Zelenskyy didn害羞草研究所檛 just sign off on the song he also suggested some changes to it, Paisley said.

Paisley害羞草研究所檚 royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, he said. Using his platform to advocate for causes important to him has always been part of his career, whether it was opening a free grocery store in Nashville with his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or fighting hunger by donating 1 million meals during the pandemic.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be able to sleep at night if I didn害羞草研究所檛 sort of swing for the fence with things like this,害羞草研究所� Paisley said. 害羞草研究所淔or me, I害羞草研究所檓 happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that害羞草研究所檚 very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don害羞草研究所檛 know if you害羞草研究所檇 call it risky, but it害羞草研究所檚 more like it害羞草研究所檚 bigger than me.害羞草研究所�

Paisley brings his passion on stage during live shows. He害羞草研究所檚 been changing the lyrics to his hit song 害羞草研究所淎merican Saturday Night,害羞草研究所� for instance, to replace a reference to the U.S.S.R. to 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.害羞草研究所�

The new record will be his debut on UMG since moving from Sony害羞草研究所檚 Arista label, and he said 害羞草研究所淪ame Here害羞草研究所� reflects the kinds of big universal themes on it.

害羞草研究所淲e do deal with stuff going on in the world,害羞草研究所� Paisley said. 害羞草研究所淗ow do you sing about things that are truly big 害羞草研究所� a big deal right now 害羞草研究所� that also don害羞草研究所檛 feel like maybe they害羞草研究所檙e the type of thing that you would be singing about typically? And yeah, on this album I have kind of really dug deep and tried to say something.害羞草研究所�

Paisley, who has visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said he害羞草研究所檚 been invited to visit Ukraine, which he害羞草研究所檇 like to do. In the meantime, he hopes the song害羞草研究所檚 message will bolster the country now facing down year two of the war.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 where it gets really rewarding害羞草研究所� feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,害羞草研究所� Paisley said.

害羞草研究所斺赌�

By Kristin M. Hall

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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