“God Bless the USA” charts again after Trump win
President-elect Donald Trump played “God Bless the USA” at many of his rallies during his campaign run. The song gained so much traction that it hit the charts again nearly 40 years later. The artist behind the track, Lee Greenwood, joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss the importance of his song.
If you’ve been to or watched any of President-elect Donald Trump’s rallies, you’ve probably heard “God Bless the USA” blasting from the speakers. And if you’ve heard the song playing in many other places outside of political events, there’s a reason.
Written and recorded by Lee Greenwood over 40 years ago, a rock version of “God Bless the USA” has made its way back onto the music charts following Trump’s presidential win.
The song opened at No. 2 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart earlier this month.
“God Bless the USA” has a history of being performed at benefits and in front of the U.S. military and presidents. It was also the song of choice during Trump’s 2016 inauguration.
Greenwood confirmed that he would be performing the song, once again, when Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025 for his second term in office.
Inspiration behind the song
“The inspiration is a little deeper than you might think. It wasn’t something at the spur of the moment,” Greenwood told LiveNOW from FOX’s Josh Breslow.
Greenwood worked for the USO as a musician, touring air bases in his home state of California and eventually traveling to other states.
“I was influenced by things like the Thunderbirds, which are based in North Las Vegas, and the parades,” Greenwood said. He also took inspiration from military benefits he performed at, which helped grow his love for his country and its citizens.
Greenwood said it was a growing number of things that led up to him writing “God Bless the USA” while on his tour bus in 1983.
There have been several versions of the song since its inception. The newest is a rock version of the song created in collaboration with Drew Jacobs.
“The collaboration allowed us to get on to the rock charts,” Greenwood said.
The original version charted at No. 7 on the Hot Country Songs chart after it’s release in 1984.
Greenwood has had seven No. 1 songs in his career, including “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time On Her Hands,” “She’s Lying,” and many more.
FILE – Former US President Donald Trump stands onstage with singer Lee Greenwood during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, US, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Justin Merriman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A song that empowers
“God Bless the USA” is often a song that is played not just to inspire patriotism, but to inject a sense of empowerment and resilience into any situation.
Greenwood has performed “God Bless the USA” at several political events, including the RNC, as well as in front of 10 U.S. presidents.
He also performed the song on the U.S.S. Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf and on 16 USO tours.
In 2017, Greenwood took part in the “Deep from the Heart” hurricane relief concert at Texas A&M and sang “God Bless the USA” in front of five former presidents, including Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
“My wife, Kim, and I got to meet all five presidents and get a picture with them,” Greenwood recalled. He had all five presidents sign the photo as well, which is a cherished keepsake from the benefit concert. “I was very grateful to have that.”
