NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While it’s true patriotism means different things to different people in the U.S., Brad Paisley thinks we can all agree on one aspect: Military personnel should be treated with respect. This belief spurred two recent actions: Paisley joined President Barack Obama on a trip to Afghanistan to perform for troops and took a moment recently to mock Westboro Baptist Church protesters outside a concert in Kansas. Members of that Topeka, Kansas, church sometimes conduct anti-gay demonstrations at military funerals in opposition to government policies.

Spokane this fall will play host to a prestigious accordion competition. Really.

At a recent concert, as Brad Paisley closed his show, B.B. King flashed onto a giant screen behind him. The pair began trading guitar licks on the blues workout “Let the Good Times Roll.” The solos were loose and raw, and their interaction so flawless that it felt like King was in the house.