Brad Paisley and Smokey Robinson trade professional compliments and musical memories as guests on the most recent episode of the podcast Naked Lunch, especially bonding over their deep mutual appreciation of Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride, who died in 2020.
Co-hosted by David Wild, Emmy-winning TV writer, producer, and contributing editor to Rolling Stone, and Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and the Netflix docuseries Somebody Feed Phil, the latest Naked Lunch coincides with the April 25th release of the Robinson’s forthcoming album, What the World Needs Now. It’s a collection of the 85-year-old vocalist’s versions of soul and pop classics like “Lean on Me,” “What a Wonderful World,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” A number of the 1987 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s friends were referenced throughout the episode, including Robinson’s former neighbor, boxing champ Muhammad Ali, and longtime pal, Aretha Franklin. “Aretha could burn,” he says of the singer’s extraordinary gift for home cooking.
Born William Robinson Jr. in Detroit’s impoverished North End neighborhood, Robinson earned his nickname from his uncle (and godfather) when he was 4 years old because of his love of cowboy movies. “My name is Smokey Joe,” Robinson recalls telling anyone who would listen. While the nickname was shortened to “Smokey” when he was about 12, country music and the Grand Ole Opry radio show would continue to be a part of his childhood. He also incorporates a little country into his new album with a cover of “Everything Is Beautiful,” the 1970 pop chart-topper written and performed by Ray Stevens, himself a Country Music Hall of Fame member.
“Country writers are some of the most profound writers in the world,” Robinson says during the podcast. When Pride’s name comes up, Robinson beams: “I had the pleasure of meeting him one time and spent some time talking with him. He was a wonderful man.”
Paisley’s memories of Pride stretch back to the country star’s teens in the mid-1980s, when he was a featured performer on the Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia. The appearances made Paisley a local celebrity and landed him opening slots for country stars who came through the region — including “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” singer Pride.
“I’ll never forget, I’m opening for Charley,” Paisley says on Naked Lunch. “My dad was sitting in the audience in the front row of where the backstage door is. Charley comes out and sits down in his own audience for his show… next to my dad. During the third song, he turns to my dad, not knowing it’s my dad, and says, ‘Who’s this kid?’ My dad says, ‘Well, that’s my son.’ He says, ‘You’re lyin’!’”
Pride and Paisley’s dad, Doug, exchanged phone numbers. “My dad writes down the phone number to the house in West Virginia. We became good friends and he would say, ‘Call me when you have any opportunity. I’ll let you know if you’re doing the right thing, if I can,” Paisley says. “So, we would rely on him a little bit when I first got to town.”
Paisley’s father got a chance to see Pride again in 2009, when President Obama hosted a country music night at the East Room in the White House, featuring the trailblazing singer and his son, alongside Alison Krauss. “We’re in the basement of the White House, all about to meet the President for the first time,” recalls Paisley. “Up walks Charley, who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years at that point. He walks up to my dad and he just [recites my dad’s home phone number]. He nailed it! You should probably bleep that on the air because that’s still the phone number. Charley was that kind of guy.”
