Nashville recording artist and CMA award winner Brad Paisley was inducted into the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry on Saturday, October 28th, 2006. The special ceremony was held at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., the national headquarters for the Scottish Rite. Paisley was in the Washington/Baltimore area as part of his “Time Well Wasted” concert tour, providing the opportunity for his induction. Paisley and his keyboardist Kendall Marcy both joined the Scottish Rite under the direction of Grand Commander Ronald Seale.

Joining Brad for this ceremony was his dad Doug Paisley, 32˚, who works with Brad on his tours as manager and bus driver. Grand Commander Seale with help from Inspectors General Hoyt Samples of TN, C.B. Hall of WV, and Hans Wilhelmsen of Maryland hosted the event. Scottish Rite members of Paisley’s and Marcy’s Blue Lodge in Tennessee and Scottish Rite childhood friends from West Virginia participated in the ceremony with both new brothers participating in the 4th, 14th, 18th, 30th and 32nd Degrees.  In addition to Paisley and Marcy joining the Scottish Rite, Country Music Legend “Little Jimmie Dickens” known mainly for his work on the TV Show “Hee Haw” and on stage at the Grand Ole Opry was inducted as a Knight Commander Court of Honor.

Paisley, a rising star in country music, was nominated for six awards by the Country Music Association, including Single of the Year, Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Brad won two awards at the CMA’s on November 6th; Vocal Event of the Year for his performance with Dolly Parton on “When I get Where I’m Going” and the prestigious Album of the Year for “Time Well Wasted”.

Paisley and Marcy were very grateful for the Scottish Rite to work with them and their busy schedules.  Paisley said, “I am very appreciative of everyone working with us and I will do whatever I can to help this organization.” We at the Southern Jurisdiction are grateful that someone as young and energetic as Brad and Kendall see the benefit of the Scottish Rite and want to support our fraternity. Here’s wishing them both great success in the future.