Brad Paisley, country star, changes lyrics of ‘American’ song to show support for Ukraine, prompting cheers from White House guests

Country star Brad Paisley made headlines at a state dinner at the White House by modifying the lyrics of his song “American Saturday Night” to show support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. The surprise performance took place during a dinner hosted by President Joe Biden to honor Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and his spouse, first lady Rachel Ruto.

In a video shared by Emily Goodin, Paisley can be seen changing the lyrics of his 2009 hit song to include references to Ukraine, receiving a round of applause and cheers from the audience. The modified lyrics included lines like “There’s a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar” instead of the original “Listenin’ to The Beatles singin’ ‘Back in the USSR.’”

This is not the first time Paisley has shown his support for Ukraine. In April 2023, he joined a bipartisan delegation of US senators on a visit to Kyiv, where he sang a Ukrainian-language folk song and performed his song “Same Here” in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Paisley also had a conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit.

Following his trip to Kyiv, Paisley spoke to The Washington Post about his experience, highlighting a meaningful conversation he had with Zelenskyy about their families. Amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the US has been providing financial and military assistance to support the war-torn nation.

In response to the US Congress discussing a new foreign aid measure for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov accused them of prioritizing their own interests. Meanwhile, the Biden administration recently announced a $275 million military aid package for Ukraine to provide essential weapons and equipment for their defense against Russia.