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Days after traveling into the heart of a war-torn Ukraine, Brad Paisley isn't sure how to describe what he saw.

Earlier this month, Paisley rode the rain-soaked roads of capital city Kyiv in an armored car. He watched as dog-walking citizens trekked between street blocks. Children in raincoats tossed bookbags across shoulders as they hopped off school buses to return to parents.

As Paisley recalled these images, one word came to mind: Emotional.

"... A reoccurring theme everywhere I went was they [aren't] willing to leave the devastation, because they want to live," said Paisley, a three-time Grammy Award-winning country artist. "They are fixing things as fast as [Russia] blows them up."

He continued, "I'm tellin' ya, that's a very emotional thing, to see that kind of fierce normalcy in the middle of what is a tragic situation. It's defiant life. They are gonna breathe free air at all costs."

Paisley visited Ukraine for twelve hours on April 12, weeks after releasing "Same Here," a country single about what unites humanity in a world often defined by division. Paisley enlisted Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a spoken-word feature on the song; proceeds from the track benefit United24, a non-profit campaign to help rebuild homes in Ukraine. "Same Here" debuted on Feb. 24, the one-year anniversary of Russia invading the country.

On behalf of United24, Paisley traveled to Ukraine with a delegation of bipartisan U.S. Senators: Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona). While visiting St. Michael's Square in Kyiv where the country displays destroyed Russian military equipment Paisley performed "Same Here" and beloved Ukrainian folk song "Chervona Ruta" at a press conference alongside the U.S. delegation.

"[It] was my pleasure to travel with West Virginian and United24 ambassador Brad Paisley and witness his performance that truly lifted the spirits of everyone present," Manchin said in a press statement. "The level of patriotism, professionalism and sheer endurance of the Ukrainian people is inspiring. After this visit, I am even more convinced that defeating Vladimir Putin and ending his ruthless war against the Ukrainian people must remain our top priority."

As with most stories in Nashville, Paisley's trip to Ukraine started with a recording session. Paisley co-wrote "Same Here" last year with hopes of finding a Ukrainian singer to guest on the single. After a few calls, he instead pitched another idea: What if Zelenskyy shared a few words on the song? Zelenskyy's leadership team bought into the idea and after a handful of rescheduled meetings the two connected via Zoom.

On "Same Here," listeners hear a bite of the conversation.

"We speak different languages in our life," Zelenskyy said on the recording. "Yes, but I think we appreciate the same things: Children, freedom, our flag, our soldiers, our people. The biggest treasure we have. And friends. And we're proud of our army who defends our freedom and will defend our lives."

Before the 45-minute meeting ended, Zelenskyy invited Paisley to Ukraine. He needed to see the rebuilding efforts "Same Here" would help fund.

Paisley took the invitation to heart, and weeks later traveled overnight via train from the Polish border to shake hands with the international leader. As he stood on newly repaved street corners leveled by missiles last year, Paisley said he marveled at how quickly Ukrainians rebuilt war-struck buildings and roads.

"One of the things in the middle of the call was, he basically said, 'You need to come over and see our people. To meet these people in this country,'" Paisley said. He added, "He's right. These people are unlike anyone I've ever seen. I don't know where their grit comes from."

During his visit, Paisley exchanged hugs with officials who helped organize the "Same Here" collaboration before shaking hands with Zelenskyy and singing "Chervona Ruta," a communal song about blooming happiness he linked to "Country Roads," the time-tested ode to Paisley's home state, West Virginia.

"I was having a little bit of doubt about whether I should try to sing that," Paisley said. "Is it going to be offensive? Am I going to butcher this language? I probably did. But they certainly were appreciative of the attempt.

And after more than a year of war, he would understand if a bitter, tired congregation greeted Paisley and company. Instead, he met people focused and optimistic about the future of their country.

"The question I asked is how similar are we? And how much do we share, ad far as people go? The answer is limitless," Paisley said. "They want exactly what we have every day, which is the ability to chose your faith. Freedom and democracy and the stability that comes with that."

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Brad Paisley went to Ukraine. Here's what he saw - Tennessean