A very special friendship led Brad Paisley to record his song, ‘Hard Life.’ The tune was written by Joe Kindregan, a 23-year-old Virginia native who had A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia), a fatal disease that combines symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, immune deficiencies and cancer. Joe met Brad back in 2005 at a fundraiser for Team 25, which helps kids facing tremendous health challenges like his. The two sang on stage together at the event and had kept in touch through the years.
“I’ve known Joe for several years and he is one of my favorite people,” says Brad. “His disease is physically debilitating, but obviously creatively and mentally Joe has such tremendous depth. It’s an honor for me to be the person to give voice to his creativity and cause.”
Brad gave all of his artist royalties from U.S. digital single sales of ‘Hard Life’ in the next year to the A-T Children’s Project. A great song for a great cause.
The ‘Hard Life’ lyrics are inspired by not only Joe’s battle with A-T, but also by others with the disease who had shared their stories with him. When the songwriter shared his lyrics with his country superstar friend, they both realized they had something very special. Joe was in Brad’s Nashville studio to watch the recording and producing process, seeing his song come to life. Joe was #LivingWithAT.
