In 2002, country music star Brad Paisley bought his first Corvette, a used 1999 C5. Paisley, whose grandfather was a Pontiac salesman, came from a family of car enthusiasts. Once he had the means to buy a performance car, an automobile he could drive for fun, Paisley chose the Corvette, kickstarting his love for America’s Sports Car.
Paisley has a much larger automobile collection now, including a 1961 Roman Red Corvette currently on display at the National Corvette Museum. Corvettes from 1961 featured a restyled boattail rear fascia and, for the first time, four taillights. Paisley’s Corvette also includes white coves on both sides. The red with white coves color combination is a personal favorite of Paisley’s, who owns a Corvette-inspired tour bus decorated with the iconic red and white coves livery.
Along with the 1961 Corvette, the Museum’s display includes several other artifacts on loan from Paisley, honoring his music career and love of Corvettes. One is a Corvette-themed carbon fiber guitar, created by custom guitar designer Bill Crook in 2012. Featuring the Corvette crossed flags and a Z06 emblem, the guitar reflects the innovative use of carbon fiber in modern Corvettes. Next to the guitar is a vinyl record of Fifth Gear, Paisley’s 2007 studio album, which has five number one songs and was certified platinum in 2008. A third artifact is a poster celebrating Paisley’s 20 million worldwide sales, including gold records and images of his studio albums through 2017.
Several of Paisley’s biggest hits reference cars, driving, and the freedom of the open road. In a 2015 interview with Car and Driver, Paisley reflected on the influence of automobiles in American culture, comparing cars to clothing. In that regard, Paisley has “worn” several Corvettes. A collection that started with his 1999 C5 also includes a 2020 Long Beach Red Stingray, which he received through the R8C delivery program at the National Corvette Museum. Yet the 1961 Corvette, with its classic red paint and white coves, is the one that inspired, in Paisley’s opinion, possibly the most attractive and iconic design for any automobile.
