Brad Paisley Picks Up the Tab for Boozy Viral Demonstration

Brad Paisley put the message of his new single to work last week, toasting two friends inspiring change and understanding with the help of cold beer.

The story stars with Pittsford, NY, residents Benjamin Smith and Marcus Ellis, two best friends who happen to have different skin colors. Moved by the death of George Floyd and racial-discrimination protests around the nation, they decided to do something small for their own community — but it became something big. Sitting in a driveway with a cooler full of longnecks and a sign that read “Black or white, relax and have a beer,” the guys’ story ran on their local news channel … and didn’t stay local for long. It quickly went viral and made its way to Paisley, who was inspired to led his support.

First the country star bought an entire warehouse of beer and sent it Smith and Ellis’ way, then he set up a zoom call to join in the unifying fun.

“Man, I am so thrilled to meet you, face to face like this,” Paisley said during the chat. “I’m so inspired by you, and we thought we should deliver more beer than you could possibly drink … This is going to be a popular destination on this street.”

Paisley has always had a heart of gold and a penchant for giving back. But the move did have a professional tie in, too. Paisley just released a bridge-building new single titled “No I in Beer,” and currently has a partnership with Bud Light. After chatting with the two friends and delivering a live streaming rendition of the new track, he stuck around to talk over the issue at hand as well.

“I’m trying to hear out my friends in the black community,” Paisley said, “and that’s what you guys are doing.”

“It means the world, from space and back, it means a lot,” Ellis said of Paisley’s support, and the nationwide response the friends have received.

“Through the rioting and protests, I felt like I was being torn apart, and it was rough,” Smith added with his voice choking up. “And this is what builds it back up.”