NEED TO KNOW
Brad Paisley is continuing a quirky MLB tradition.
The country music star, 53, performed at World Series Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 27, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. His national anthem performance came after Canadian singer-songwriter JP Saxe performed the Canadian national anthem, “O Canada.”
Paisley’s performance marked the fourth time he has sung the National Anthem ahead of a World Series game – and the fourth time his performance preceded a surprisingly long game.
The “She’s Everything” singer previously performed at World Series Game 2 in 2017, which lasted 11 innings; World Series Game 3 in 2018, which lasted 18 innings; World Series Game 1 in 2024, which lasted 10 innings; and Monday evening’s game, which lasted 18 innings, per MLB’s official X account.
In the bottom of the 18th, the Didgers finally secured the 6-5 win with Freddie Freeman’s walkoff home run. The 2018 World Series’ third game, which coincidentally saw the Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox, also lasted 18 innings. They are both the longest games in World Series history.
Fans also noted that Paisley has a knack for performing at really long World Seires games.
Though Paisley has yet to comment on the fan theory, his wife Kimberly Williams Paisley referenced it in a comment on his Instagram video post from the performance. “Is it your fault it went 18 innings again? Nice of the @dodgers to win for your birthday! ❤️🎉,” she wrote.
Brad and Kimberly have had plenty to celebrate in recent days, including Kimberly’s 54th birthday on Sept. 14. They marked the occasion by announcing that a donkey had just joined their crew, with Brad posting a photo on Instagram of Kimberly posing with the animal.
“A beautiful donkey was just born on our farm,” the country singer began the post’s caption. “Speaking of,” he continued, “it’s the beautiful @kimberlywilliamspaisley’s birthday today! Happy birthday!”
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He then joked: “As I write this I realize what a bad idea it may have been to combine the two announcements. I’m not saying they are in any way similar. Or that she is a….Maybe I should edit th…”
The couple’s romance began in 2001, when the “Whiskey Lullaby” musician asked the actress to star in one of his music videos, and they started dating not long after.
