Country superstar Brad Paisley is known for his chart-topping hits and electrifying performances on stage, but last year, he took on a new role as a dentist for his son’s pet fish. The Whiskey Lullaby hitmaker found himself grounded for much of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so he decided to make himself useful at home with his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and their two children. Little did he know that his newfound duties would involve performing a small procedure on his son Jasper’s pufferfish.
„My son had four pufferfish and was down to two – and this one was losing weight,“ Brad explained to People magazine. He soon discovered that the fish’s teeth had grown so long that it was having trouble eating. Determined to help his son’s beloved pet, Brad took matters into his own hands and began researching procedures online.
After learning how to trim a fish’s teeth, Brad sedated the pufferfish with a few drops of clove oil in a bucket of water. Kimberly recalled, „I’ve never seen him nervous before, but his hand was shaking.“ Despite his nerves, Brad pressed on with the task at hand, even reaching out to a brain surgeon friend for advice as he struggled to control his shaking hand.
With determination and a steady hand, Brad carefully clipped the fish’s overgrown teeth. „You put him in the bucket, and he started to drift and go sideways, so I grabbed him in the net and held him,“ the singer shared. „They’ve got like, a beak, and I clipped it and thought I killed him – but he made it!“ Brad’s quick thinking and DIY approach saved the pufferfish’s life, much to the relief of his son.
In a lighthearted moment, Brad joked, „These are the things in a pandemic you do yourself!“ The Paisley family’s farm near Nashville, Tennessee, is home to a menagerie of pets, including two dogs, snakes, a bearded dragon, geese, and of course, the pufferfish. Brad not only tends to his musical career but also takes on the responsibilities of caring for their diverse array of animals.
Brad Paisley’s foray into fish dentistry may have been unexpected, but it showcases his dedication to his family and their furry, scaly, and feathered companions. As a multi-talented artist and now a fish dentist, Brad continues to entertain and surprise fans with his talents both on and off the stage.
