Brad Paisley Receives International Artist Achievement Award at 2015 CMA Music Festival

Brad Paisley was honored with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award during the 2015 CMA Music Festival.

The West Virginia native was given the award on the last night of the four-day event, by his good friend Keith Urban.

"It's a huge honor to be able to do this for you, Brad. I know that traveling internationally has always been important to you," the Aussie joked with Paisley (quote via Rolling Stone Country). "I know you played, I think, Japan? Maybe down in Cabo? Maybe Niagara Falls one time? I'm just glad I can do this. Maybe we can do an international tour together."

Paisley returned Urban's humor, calling him Captain Australia (a reference to Paisley's "Crushin' It" video), before expressing his appreciation for the trophy.

"I think country music works as one of the best ambassador-type things you can do in an art form," Paisley said. "When you send other forms of music overseas, it’s obviously something people flip out [over] and love, but I don’t know if it reflects real life as well as our format does.

"Any time you see people in Sweden loving country songs and buying into what we are as artists, they’re seeing the real America," he added. "In that sense, we have an obligation as a format to try our best to get this everywhere we can so they don’t think we all wear spandex."

CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern was also on hand for the special presentation.

“Brad is such a tremendous ambassador for country music around the world,” she says. “His undeniable talent, wit and charm transcend borders and speak to the heart of the format -- in any language.”

Paisley is currently on his 2015 Crushin' It World Tour, with Justin Moore and Mickey Guyton serving as his opening acts. A list of all of his upcoming shows is available at BradPaisley.com.

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