Giving his signature song an update.
Of course by now everybody knows the Lee Greenwood classic “God Bless the USA” (or sometimes referred to as “Proud To Be An American). Written in the back of his tour bus and originally released in 1984 on Greenwood’s third studio album, You’ve Got A Good Love Comin’. At the time, it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and #16 on the Hot 100 chart, so it wasn’t a huge commercial success, but it gained mainstream popularity when it became a theme song for President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 presidential campaign, as well as the George H.W. Bush campaign in 1988.
The song gained renewed popularity in the wake of the September 11th attacks, and now even 40 years after its release it remains a staple for 4th of July celebrations all over the country.
It’s also been a theme song for President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, with the GOP nominee using the song at campaign rallies across the country.
Greenwood has even accompanied Trump out on the campaign trail, appearing at his rally at Madison Square Garden a couple weeks ago and performing his signature song at the Republican National Convention back in August as the GOP nominee took the stage.
🚨Lee Greenwood gives an incredible introduction to Donald Trump as he enters the RNC Convention 🇺🇸
Grab your tissues. pic.twitter.com/tgrwlCG1K7
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 16, 2024
And ahead of the election, Greenwood decided to give his song a little update 40 years after it was originally released.
For the new version, the legendary singer teamed up with country singer Drew Jacobs, who has has released reimagined rock versions of songs like Brad Paisley’s “I’m Going To Miss Her,” “The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks and many more.
With Greenwood and Jacobs both on lead vocals, the two give the patriotic classy a rock update for 2024.
Speaking about the new version of his classic song, Greenwood said
“This is a big year for God Bless The USA. I have not recorded the song with many people, ever, as I felt like it would be passing the baton to someone else to sing my signature song. However, this rock-version is not something that I would have done on my own. So, I am excited to have fans and fellow patriots hear it, share it, and add it to their playlists.”
With voters heading to the polls today, and Greenwood having made it clear where he stands on the 2024 election, he took to social media to thank President Trump for using his song on the campaign trail and express his support once again for the GOP nominee:
“Nearly 10 Years Ago, Donald Trump started using God Bless The USA as his walk out song at every rally and event. Little did I know 40 years ago that my song would play a key part of such a historic presidential campaign. To President Trump and the millions of supporters, Thank You!”
Of course it’s always a little risky to remake a classic song, especially one like “God Bless the USA” that everybody already knows and hears all the time. But after 40 years, Greenwood thought it was time to give it an update – and it’s not half bad.
