Reuniting the three founding members of the group Alabama on his new single, 'Old Alabama,' Brad Paisley is brought back to his teenage years when he would cover just about every song the legendary band ever put out. The singer says he still can't believe he had the good fortune to have them guest on his song.

"Going back to when I asked them to be on this song, I remember a comment that Randy [Owen] made to me," Brad tells The Boot. "I said, 'I've got this idea. The song is all about your music. It's about a girl that's in love with that old sound and I want to use the bridge from 'Mountain Music' in it and some other lines here and there, if you'd co-write it with me. It's our way of sampling here in the country world.' And he said, 'You know what? I think that sounds great. I didn't think anyone cared anymore!' And I told him, 'You're about to see how much people care.'"

Care, they do. 'Old Alabama,' which also name checks the Alabama songs 'Love in the First Degree' and 'Dixieland Delight,' has already hit No. 16 on the country charts, just a few short weeks after its release. The tune is the second track from his forthcoming album, 'This Is Country Music,' which arrives in stores May 24.

The West Virginia native even opened last week's ACM Awards by performing 'Old Alabama' with Randy, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook. Their performance earned a standing ovation from the audience, and was a huge musical moment for Brad, who co-wrote the song with Randy, Chris DuBois and Dave Turnbull. The ACM Top Male Vocalist is hoping the song will bring Alabama some new fans, and remind others of their prominence in music history.

"More than anything, I hope this makes their iTunes songs spike a little," Brad continues. "They're really the coolest band we've ever had, so I'm really proud to get to be an unofficial member for a little while."

You may have noticed that Brad was sporting a vintage and bedazzled Alabama T-shirt for his ACM performance, and the rest of his band were wearing garments from the '80s. He explained backstage that the garb was their way of paying homage to the group and their dominance of the country charts. Brad even sported a special present from the lead singer. "I'm wearing this wristband that Randy gave me. We dressed like '80s, the whole band and I, like it was 1983. We have a DeLorean out back and we're going to party in that," joked Brad, referencing the famous car featured in the film, 'Back to the Future.' "This [holding up his wrist] was Randy's, and he wore that all through the '80s, and he brought it tonight not knowing we were going to dress '80s, sort of snakeskin and Reeboks and Don Johnson. My bass player looked like Don Johnson. And Randy said, 'I brought these.' He wore them tonight, and then he gave them to me."

Brad is set to kick off his H20 II: Wetter & Wilder World tour at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., May 28.

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