God Bless The USA Story

Perhaps one of the most iconic patriotic country songs is “God Bless The USA.”  But the song was very controversial at the time, and was almost not released.  Country Countdown USA spoke with the song’s writer and performer, Lee Greenwood, at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.  “It was actually very risky.  The good news for me is my producer had gospel background, and realized my heart about putting God in the song, and realized my support of the country in time of peace was important.  But it was a chance.  But I felt so strongly about USA, and we had 6 or 7 hits by this time.  It wasn’t a fly-by night song.  I spent 3 months after I wrote it waiting to see if I was going to release it.  When USA came on the music charts, it never exceeded the Top 10, but its longevity and how much it meant to the country upheld the reason I wrote it.”

In fact, “God Bless The USA” peaked at #7 in the summer of 1984, and Greenwood performed it at the Republican National Convention that year when Ronald Reagan was nominated for a second term.  That performance led to a friendship between Greenwood and Reagan.  “I was at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library opening more than 20 years ago, and I sang that song on stage with five Presidents and six First Ladies:  Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush, and Reagan.  And I got them all to stand up with a flight of F-18s that went above us.  I was the only person who shook hands with every one of them as I walked off stage, and have this hand to prove it!”

Of course, the song was revived in 1991 for the first Gulf War, and again after 9-11.  In fact, Greenwood re-recorded the song, and it charted again, this time peaking at #16. 

Lee Greenwood has accumulated a lot of memorabilia from that song, as well as other moments in his career, and it’s on display now at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville.  “Many of these items had been on display at our theater near Gatlinburg TN in 1996, and they would never have been this well-kept collection had it not been for that theater.  When they came out of the theater, we put them in a clean place, and they were logged, so that helped with this exhibit.  I’m just thrilled they did such a great job.  I’m blown away at seeing all these articles in one place.  As I walk along the window here, and look at the items, it represents so many moments in my career, my wife & I are grateful we’re able to look back at these events at this exhibit.”

“Lee Greenwood: American Patriot” will continue through April 25, 2014.  Lee will sign autographs there on June 6th, and perform at LP Field during CMA Fest.

 

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