A year ago, country star Brad Paisley watched the news on television as Russian troops invaded Ukraine and, like many around the world, he felt helpless at the images of people fleeing their homes.

“The world felt like it was in a new place that it hadn’t been in decades,” the three-time Grammy winner recalled.

On Friday, the one-year anniversary of the start of the war, Paisley released a new song, “Same Here,” featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking proudly about his country and people.

The song is Paisley’s first from his new record, “Son of the Mountains,” to be released later this year.

The musician wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It’s a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language.

While it doesn’t mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians’ desire for freedom, adding, “There is no distance between our two countries in such values.”

“There’s just no differences,”

Paisley said in a recent interview. “You can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.”

Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for Ukraine’s United24 crowdfunding effort. His royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Brad Paisley released a new song on the one-year anniversary of the war’s start in Ukraine. MICKEY BERNAL/GETTY 2022 Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, Paisley said.

Paisley, who has visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said he has been invited to visit Ukraine. In the meantime, he hopes the song’s message will bolster the country now facing year two of the war.

“That’s where it gets really rewarding ... feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,” Paisley said.

Smart recovering from heart procedure: Jean Smart revealed Thursday that she’s recovering from a recent heart procedure.

The actor said on Instagram that the procedure had been successful and she felt it was “important” to share her condition.

“I am fortunate to have excellent professional care and support from family and friends while I continue to recuperate,”

Smart wrote. “Please listen to your body and talk to your doctor — I’m very glad I did!”

While Smart recuperates, some departments involved in the production of “Hacks” season three have been paused. In the HBO Max series, Smart stars as veteran comedian Deborah Vance.

Jonas Brothers announces new album: Jonas Brothers has released a new single and revealed an upcoming album and plans to hit Broadway for five shows next month. Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas announced Friday they’ll use each night at New York City’s Marquis Theatre from March 14 to 18 to focus on a different one of their albums. The brothers also released the song “Wings” from their upcoming collection, “The Album,” which is due in May.

Feb. 25 birthdays: Actor Ann McCrea is 92. TV host Sally Jessy Raphael is 88.

Actor Tom Courtenay is 86. Journalist Bob Schieffer is 86. Actor Diane Baker is 85. Musician John Doe is 70. Model Veronica Webb is 58. Actor Sean Astin is 52. Singer Justin Jeffre is 50. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 48. Actor Rashida Jones is 47. Actor Jameela Jamil is 37.