Country music superstar Brad Paisley and Hallmark actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley are adding an impressive new title to their resumes—doctors.
The longtime couple recently revealed that they were both awarded honorary doctorates from Belmont University during the school’s commencement ceremony, with Kimberly joking that the prestigious honor may be giving them a bit of an ego boost.
In a celebratory post on social media, the actress thanked the members of the university for recognizing both her and Brad, reflecting on the meaningful experience. She described the ceremony as “truly inspiring” and applauded the university for the way it continues to support and uplift the Nashville community.
Brad & Kimberly Receive a Great Honor Together
“We’re doctors now!” Kimberly wrote in the caption of her May 8 Instagram post. “@belmontu bestowed upon me and @bradpaisley honorary doctorates today and it’s going straight to our heads.”
She continued, “Thank you to President Jones and the Board of Trustees for this honor. It was a truly inspiring ceremony, not least because we were a small part of it. I continue to be impressed with Belmont for the way it shows up in and for our community.”
Kimberly signed off her caption with the hashtag: #bruinsforlife.
Friends and colleagues wrote sweet messages to the couple in the comments to congratulate them on their well-deserved honor.
“Love!!! Congrats!! 👏👏👏” wrote fellow Hallmark actress Nikki DeLoach.
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Jessica Capshaw wrote, “You look even smarter. 🌟”
“Congrats, Doctors!” added Kal Penn, another actor best known for his starring role in the “Harold & Kumar” franchise
Grand Ole Opry Member Brad Makes His Hallmark Debut
Though Kimberly is known for her roles in a number of Hallmark projects, her husband also made an appearance in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The country singer appears in the 2025 film, “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” which stars DeLoach and Kristoffer Polaha. In the film, Brad acts in a cameo role, preforms, and writes original music for the film.
The film follows “Gentry Wade, daughter of late country music icon Jett Wade – half of the famed duo Winters & Wade – abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father’s legacy following his tragic accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she’s hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue’s oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. Gentry’s lifelong friend Mac, a country music talent manager, finds himself in 1995 as well. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades,” per Hallmark Channel.
The film was a collaboration with the Grand Ole Opry, celebrating its 100th year. It also featured cameos from other country muic stars, such as Bill Anderson, Dailey & Vincent, Drew Baldridge, Jamey Johnson, Maggie Baugh, Megan Moroney, Mickey Guyton, Pam Tillis, Rhett Akins, Riders in the Sky, Suzy Bogguss, Tigirlily Gold, T Graham Brown.
Watch the trailer above to get a glimpse at Brad’s role in the film, which was his Hallmark debut.
