Brad Paisley Pens First Book, ‘Diary of a Player’

Brad Paisley has written more than two dozen of his Top 20 hits, including his recent No. 1 duet, 'Remind Me,' with Carrie Underwood. But now the renowned songwriter is trying his hand at another kind of writing, releasing his first book, 'Diary of a Player,' this fall with Howard Books, an imprint of the renowned publisher Simon and Shuster.

The new book is a tribute to the guitarists in all genres of music who have inspired and shaped Brad's own musical journey. The West Virginia native, who received his first guitar at 8 years old from his grandfather, believes that one gift changed the entire course of his life. He says it inspired him to write his first song at the tender age of 12, and to begin performing when he was only 13 years old, opening for some of his own heroes, including George Jones, Ricky Skaggs and the Judds.

"It is a love letter to the guitar," Howard Books Vice President and publisher Jonathan Merkh, explains. "The book pays homage to an instrument that Paisley realized was his only real constant no matter how he changed and evolved."

The guitar is what the now-married father of two believes helped him navigate some of life's darker days. "There are some people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, or watch TV, cry, sleep, and so on," he notes. "I play."

'Diary of a Player' hit shelves on Nov. 1. The 38-year-old will wrap up his H20 II: Wetter & Wilder tour on October 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. See his remaining concert schedule here.

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