Blake Shelton’s casting agent didn’t have to cast far to catch the perfect extras for the country music star’s newest song and video, God Gave Me You. And, of course, those extras were found right here in Brentwood.

Here’s how it went down:

About a month ago Brentwood Fire Chief Brian Goss was approached by the agent about using a few of his firefighters in a music video.

“I told the casting agent that I wouldn't feel comfortable using our personnel unless the message and content of the song and video was appropriate and positive,” Goss said. He needn’t have worried. It’s one of those feel-good, get-out-your-tissues songs and the video plays right along with the theme.

Anyone familiar with the Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department knows it's comprised of individuals from across the country and from all kinds of professions. One of those is Jay Williams, a former actor and filmmaker from California. Goss asked him to put the group of six firefighters together.

Those six didn’t include Chief Goss – or his wife Marie – but they got into the act as well after dropping in on the shoot to make sure the content truly was appropriate.

The video is broken into three vignettes and our local crew is in the final scene of the three.  “They were just planning on using us as ‘extras’, but because of Jay's acting experience they decided to use him as the lead paramedic," the chief said. The female "paramedic" is Claudia Church, a country artist in her own right as well as a former Brentwood resident and wife of country singer Rodney Crowell.

“We all had a lot of fun with it and are enjoying our 1.75 seconds of fame (or about that). I am also extremely pleased with the message of the song and video and the positive light in which it portrays public safety,” said Chief Goss.

For the record, all of the participating firefighters participated off hours as a “completely extracurricular” activity.

Now, if Blake needs a newspaper editor for any upcoming videos, his casting agent is welcome to call the BHP office – though I don’t want to think what Sue Falls, one of our great sales professionals, would do if I got a part and not her. She may be a married mother of three teenagers, but she doesn't let any of that keep her from being Blake’s biggest fan and, well, let’s just say it, biggest groupie. Miranda would not be happy.

But for now, let’s stick with the video at hand. It’s a great song and video too. Click here to see for yourself!

Speaking of the Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department, did you know that the department turns 25 this year? To mark the occasion, the first-ever Public Safety Day festival will take place Oct. 15 in the Brentwood Place shopping center parking lot. We’ll have a big story on it – and the department – closer to the date, but in the meantime mark your calendar.

There will be children’s activities and “live” fire-fighting and rescue demonstrations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If that’s not enough for the wanna-be firefighter in you, open house tours of each of Brentwood's four fire stations will occur at the same time. Let’s hope for a 6 p.m. start for the Vandy-Georgia and UT-LSU games that day.

Susan Leathers is editor of Brentwood Home Page. Click here to read previous columns. Email her at susan@brentwoodhomepage.com