When I got married, I hired a great choir - the St. James Choir

In this remembrance, Brad Paisley speaks of a choice filled with reverence and meaning. At his wedding, he did not merely seek music for entertainment, but a great choir to elevate the sacredness of the moment. He chose the St. James Choir, an all-black gospel choir, whose voices carry the weight of history, faith, and triumph. Their songs would not only fill the air with harmony but would weave the presence of the divine into the very fabric of his union, turning the celebration into a living prayer.

The power of a gospel choir lies in its roots. Born from the struggles and faith of African American communities, gospel music has long been a voice of hope and liberation. These songs, often rising from places of hardship, transform suffering into beauty, and despair into joy. By bringing such voices into his wedding, Brad united his personal story with a greater legacy — one of resilience and spiritual strength. It was not only a performance, but an act of homage to a tradition that has healed hearts for generations.

Music has always played a central role in sacred ceremonies. In ancient temples of Greece, choirs would sing hymns to the gods as offerings of reverence. In medieval Europe, the soaring voices of monks and choirs filled cathedrals with sound that seemed to reach heaven itself. Similarly, the St. James Choir brought a spiritual grandeur to Brad’s wedding, reminding all present that marriage is not merely a contract of two individuals, but a covenant blessed by something greater than themselves.

History offers many examples of music’s power to shape a sacred moment. When Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speeches, gospel choirs often sang before and after his words, preparing the hearts of listeners to receive his message of justice and unity. In the same way, Brad’s wedding choir created a space where love and harmony were not just felt, but profoundly experienced. Their voices became vessels of joy, carrying the emotions of the day to heights that words alone could not reach.

Thus, this memory teaches future generations that music is not decoration, but a force that can transform the soul of a gathering. By choosing a gospel choir, Brad Paisley honored both the sanctity of his vows and the power of a cultural tradition steeped in perseverance and faith. His story reminds us that the greatest ceremonies are not defined by grandeur alone, but by the presence of voices that speak to the heart, lifting love beyond the earthly and into the eternal.