Country stars Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley found the express lane to feel-good nostalgia on their duet, “Freedom Was a Highway.” And with a new music video, the duo take a trip to fantasy land.
Co-directed by Jimmie Allen and Christopher Beyrooty, the cinematic clip tells a story full of imagination. It begins simple enough, with Allen cruising the backroads of a sleepy small town in a classic car — but he’s soon stopped in his tracks, after making a “golden” discovery.
Mixing special effects with dream-like story telling, the clip progresses with Allen transforming into the country-singing front man his fans know and love, leading a concert full of screaming fans and confetti cannons. Paisley is there too, appearing out of thin air with a vintage truck to trade verses and quick-picking guitar licks, and it all helps capture the youthful sense of anything-is-possible inspiration “Freedom Was A Highway” is based on. But soon enough the fever dream ends, fading out just as fast as it materialized in the first place. … Or maybe Allen’s “normal” life is the dream?
Either way, “Freedom Was A Highway” is featured on Allen’s latest album, Bettie James Gold Edition, and the propulsive track is currently inside country radio’s Top 20. Allen shared some behind-the-scenes shots of the video’s making on Instagram.
Jimmie Allen is the current ACM New Male Artist of the Year, and his duet with Paisley follows the 2020 single “This Is Us” (with Noah Cyrus) and a pair of breakout Number Ones — “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To.” He is currently on the road as a special guest on Paisley’s Tour 2021 through October 9, and will then join Nelly on select dates this fall.
Meanwhile, Allen has further explored his passion for filmmaking as the executive producer of an episode of Netflix’s Titletown High, which starts streaming August 27. And Paisley’s new single, “City of Music,” is out now.