John Mayer & Brad Paisley

This episode of CMT Crossroads pairs two young artists who share a talent for master musicianship and a passion for creative songwriting -- John Mayer and Brad Paisley. When John Mayer emerged from the underground in 2001 with his debut album Room for Squares, he was a little-known 22-year-old with an acoustic guitar and boundless energy. His ascent was rapid, powered by nonstop touring and intensive word of mouth, which reached critical mass just as radio and television were discovering the young artist. Two years later, his triple-platinum Room for Squares spawned three hit singles, including "Your Body is a Wonderland," which earned him a Grammy for best pop vocal performance. His 2003 album Heavier Things debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and has sold nearly two million copies. With two platinum albums and 2003's Mud on the Tires approaching that same mark, Brad Paisley has established himself as one of country's finest artists. Scoring three No. 1 hits, multiple Grammy nominations, and three CMA Awards, Paisley has earned the distinction of being the Grand Ole Opry's youngest cast member. He has been hailed by the Chicago Sun-Times as its country artist of the year in 2003. USA Today called his Grammy-nominated guitar work "some of the most adventurous picking you'll hear in mainstream country." CMT Crossroads is a television show broadcast on Country Music Television and Palladia that pairs country music artists with musicians from other music genres. Each episode of CMT Crossroads features a different set of stars playing together. This episode was aired on May 14, 2004.