Brad Paisley & Kimberly Williams-Paisley Host 2026 Comedy Fundraiser

The annual fundraiser returns during the Nashville Comedy Festival.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: February 19, 2026

Country music superstar Brad Paisley and actress and best-selling author Kimberly Williams-Paisley are once again teaming up for a night of laughter and impact.

The couple will host the fourth annual “Groceries with Dignity & Comedy Without” with Brad Paisley & Friends on Sunday, April 19 at Zanies in Nashville. The comedy fundraiser benefits The Store, the nonprofit the pair co-founded to fight food insecurity across Middle Tennessee.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m. The event is sponsored by Prevost.

A Night of Comedy During Nashville Comedy Festival

The fundraiser coincides with the annual Nashville Comedy Festival, which runs April 9–19 and brings some of the biggest names in stand-up to venues across the city.

Previous editions of the Zanies event have raised $500,000 for The Store and featured an impressive lineup of comedians including Nate Bargatze, John Crist, Henry Cho, Bonnie Hunt, Kevin Nealon, Dusty Slay, The Groundlings, and Aaron Webber. Paisley has also delivered comedic musical performances and served as emcee for the evening.

What Is The Store?

Founded by Paisley and Williams-Paisley, The Store operates as a free, referral-based grocery store designed to empower families and individuals in need — while preserving dignity and choice.

Rather than pre-packed boxes, shoppers select their own items from:

• Fresh produce

• Healthy meats

• Dairy products

• Pantry staples

A small, dedicated staff supported by volunteers provides personalized service to each family.

The original location opened in 2020 on the campus of Belmont University. In 2025 alone, The Store served 2,200 families with fresh, nutritious food and support services.

Earlier this year, the nonprofit expanded significantly.

A Second Location Opens

In January, The Store officially opened its second location on the campus of TriStar Centennial Medical Center, part of HCA Healthcare. Corporate and private donations helped fund both the buildout and operations.

With demand rising due to the growing hunger crisis in Middle Tennessee, the new location is expected to more than double the number of families currently served.

About Brad Paisley

A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Brad Paisley has spent more than 25 years at the forefront of country music.

Highlights from his career include:

• Three GRAMMY Awards

• 15 ACM Awards

• 14 CMA Awards

• Entertainer of the Year honors

• 21 No. 1 hits (25 total)

• 10 consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles

• Nearly 5 billion career streams

Paisley was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and remains one of the most decorated male solo artists in country music history.

About Kimberly Williams-Paisley

An award-winning actress and New York Times best-selling author, Kimberly Williams-Paisley continues to balance entertainment and advocacy work.

She currently stars on ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville and FOX’s Farmer Wants A Wife and is widely recognized for her role in the Father of the Bride franchise. Her memoir Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again became a New York Times bestseller in 2016.

Williams-Paisley has also been honored by the Alzheimer’s Association for her advocacy work and has served as a global ambassador for CARE International for nearly a decade.

How to Attend

“Groceries with Dignity & Comedy Without” takes place Sunday, April 19 at Zanies Nashville.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m. Proceeds benefit The Store and its mission to combat food insecurity with dignity and choice