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Brad Paisley delivered a rendition of music legend Charley Pride’s early 1970s classic, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin,’” during the 50th American Music Awards anniversary special on Sunday evening (October 6) in Los Angeles, California.
Pride is hailed “one of the greatest country voices of all time.” He released the ballad on his 10-track record, Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs, in 1971. The country legend was also known for “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” “Burgers and Fries,” “Mountain of Love,” “I Don’t Think She’s In Love Anymore” and many others throughout his decades-long career. Pride was born in Mississippi in 1934. He died in December 2020 in Dallas, Texas. He was 86.
“I’d love to sing a little bit of this classic by a man called Pride,” Paisley said as he took the stage at the AMAs. His brief cover of “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” as a tribute to Pride preceded Paisley’s performance of “Truck Still Works.” He released his latest single on September 27, following Son Of The Mountains: The First Four Tracks last year. The new song features nods to Paisley’s early 2000s anthem, “Mud on the Tires.”
“It’s a throwback, but at the same time it’s a new set of wheels. It’s a new road to go down, and it’s the first of many off of the new project,” Paisley said as “Truck Still Works” released. He delivered the debut live performance on September 26 in Nashville, Tennessee. “I hope you love it. I wanna hear it blasting from somebody’s vehicle at a red light. If you’re a guitar player, learn it. And teach it to me because I need to learn it a little better. And I hope you love it. I hope that it takes you back in time and anybody out there that has something in the barn that needs fired back up, this is for you.”
Other performers who took the stage throughout the evening included Kane Brown (with a tribute to legendary singer-songwriter Alan Jackson), Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, RAYE and Stray Kids, with special appearances by many others. Watch the AMAs tribute to Pride and clips of Paisley’s performance below.