Lee Greenwood Records Acoustic Version Of “God Bless The U.S.A.” In Honor Of Its 40th Anniversary

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Grammy Award-winning country artist Lee Greenwood’s classic tune “God Bless The U.S.A.” has officially turned 40, marking four decades of inspiring and serving as an anthem for American spirit, bravery, and patriotism.

When it was released, the song quickly climbed to No. 7 on the country charts. That same year, it was featured at the Republican National Convention, attended by President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Since then, it has become a go-to anthem during times of national crisis, such as the Gulf War in 1991 and following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Greenwood comes from a family with a strong military background. His father served in the Navy during World War II, and his stepfather was in the Air Force. This family history has greatly influenced him, and he has always prioritized honoring those who have served in the military.

“I wanted to write it my whole life,” Greenwood said about the song during an interview with The Boot. “When I got to that point, we were doing 300 days a year on the road, and we were on our fourth or fifth album on MCA. I called my producer, and I said, “I have a need to do this.” I’ve always wanted to write a song about America, and I said, “We just need to be more united.”

Regarding how Greenwood came up with the well-known lyrics, he explained, “I’m from California, and I don’t know anybody from Virginia or New York, so when I wrote it — and my producer and I had talked about it — [we] talked about the four cities I wanted to mention, the four corners of the United States. It could have been Seattle or Miami, but we chose New York and LA, and he suggested Detroit and Houston because they both were economically part of the basis of our economy — Motown and the oil industry — so I just poetically wrote that in the bridge.”

“From the lakes of Minnesota / To the hills of Tennessee / Across the plains of Texas / From sea to shining sea / From Detroit down to Houston / And New York to L.A. / Where’s pride in every American heart / And it’s time we stand and say / That I’m proud to be an American / Where at least I know I’m free / And I won’t forget the men who died / Who gave that right to me.”

 

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“God Bless The USA” Celebrates 40 Years

It’s safe to say “God Bless The U.S.A.” has achieved incredible success since its release. Due to its popularity, Greenwood has re-recorded it several times. The first re-recording was for his 1992 album American Patriot, followed by another version in 2003 titled “God Bless the U.S.A. 2003.”

Most recently, Greenwood re-recorded the song in celebration of its 40th anniversary. In a stripped-back, acoustic session, Greenwood delivers a beautiful rendition of his iconic track, proving that it still holds the same significance as it did 40 years ago. This new version of the patriotic song can be streamed HERE.

Watch Lee Greenwood perform “God Bless The U.S.A.” in honor of its 40th anniversary below.