Brad Paisley on Singing the Anthem at the Only Two 18-Inning Games in World Series History: ‘I Had No Idea There Would Be Major Cosmic Ramifications’

Country music star Brad Paisley has humorously suggested a new nickname for himself: "Mr. More Baseball." This comes after he performed the National Anthem at a World Series game that stretched into a record-tying 18th inning. "If you’d like more baseball, I’m your guy," Paisley told Variety. This wasn't a one-off event. The last time a World Series game went 18 innings, in 2018, Paisley was also the anthem singer. In fact, all four times he has performed before a Series game, the contest has gone into extra innings, cementing a peculiar pattern that has fans and commentators buzzing.

While some have jokingly referred to this as the "Brad Paisley curse," the artist and most baseball enthusiasts see it as a blessing. Monday's nearly seven-hour marathon was hailed by sportscasters as one of the most thrilling games in the sport's history. Paisley, a devoted Dodgers fan, is happy to be considered a good-luck charm. "I’m available also for football," he pointed out. "I’d like to see that go into more quarters, as well." Before his performance, he was asked on an MLB program if he anticipated a repeat of the 2018 epic. He dismissed the idea, calling it "statistically impossible," and stated his only initial concern was singing the anthem correctly, with no expectation of "major cosmic ramifications."

The timing added another layer of coincidence, as the dramatic win occurred on the East Coast on his birthday. "If they win tonight, I get two wins on my birthday. Wouldn’t that be nice?" he mused. Despite the strange alignment of events, Paisley refuses to take credit. "I definitely don’t think it had anything to do with me," the Dodgers megafan insists. He recounted watching the game unfold, inning after tense inning, and described it as "one of the best-played baseball games of all time," praising the defense and pitching from both teams. He noted the exhausting yet captivating nature of the contest, suggesting it was a perfect advertisement for the drama of baseball.

A particularly poignant moment for Paisley involved his friend, legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw, who has announced his retirement is imminent, was called into a high-pressure situation with the bases loaded in extra innings—a scenario never before seen in postseason history. "My favorite moment was with my dear friend Clayton Kershaw, who’s my favorite player of all time," Paisley said. "For him to go in there... and not give up, to me, that’s just the beautiful thing about this game." He referenced the film 'Moneyball', asking, "How can you not be romantic about baseball?" Some considered the managerial decision risky, potentially jeopardizing Kershaw's legacy, but Paisley believed it was meant to be, highlighting Kershaw's fierce competitiveness.

Paisley's connection to the Dodgers deepened after he and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, began living part-time in Santa Monica following their 2003 marriage. His children reaching the age for ballpark outings solidified his fandom, and he developed friendships within the organization. While he didn't grow up obsessed with the sport, his first anthem performance for the Dodgers in 2000 planted a seed. A particularly emotional performance for him was the "opening day 2.0" in 2021, when fans returned to the stands after the pandemic. Looking ahead, Paisley is releasing a Christmas album, "Snow Globe Town," a stark contrast to the current baseball season. But for now, he'll be in the stands for Game 4, quipping, "Whatever happens tonight ain’t my fault."