Country music star Brad Paisley will play a pair of shows in Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC on May 2nd and 3rd respectively. Right now, though, he’s dealing with a lot of controversy after the release of his new song called Accidental Racist featuring rapper L.L. Cool J.

The song tells the story of a Southerner who walks into a Starbucks coffee shop wearing a shirt with a confederate flag and proceeds to discuss racial misunderstandings and tensions in the United States predicated around the deep South.

The controversy is gaining speed just ahead of the release of Paisley’s next album, Wheelhouse, which drops this week. Paisley told USA Today he wanted to step out of his comfort zone and create conversation.

“I still think there will be people who misunderstand what I’m saying, but welcome to the Internet,” Paisley told USA Today. “But that is the job of art, to promote discussion.”

In addition to his new songs, Paisley is sure to play a lot of old favorites including his 17 United States Country number one songs. Some favorites over the last five or six years include “Mud on the Tires,” “The World,” “She’s Everything,” “Ticks,” “Online,” “I’m Still a Guy,” “Waitin’ on a Woman,” “Star a Band,” and “Then.”

Some of his most recent number one hits include “Remind Me,” “Old Alabama,” “Anything Like Me,” and “Water.”

Given Paisley’s upbeat style in a lot of his songs, any show is sure to be a lot of fun, but especially at the start of the summer season when concertgoers are ready to cut loose and have a good time.

Throw in a dose of controversy that is sure to keep Paisley in the headlines for some time and these should be much-anticipated shows.

In Charlotte, Paisley will be playing the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 2. The next night, he’ll hit the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see one of country music’s biggest stars while he’s a big topic of conversation. Get your tickets now!