Lee Greenwood
Singer – Songwriter
Lee Greenwood reflects on his iconic song 'God Bless the USA.' He shares insights into its creation and initial reception. Greenwood also touches on the song's unexpected journey to becoming a national anthem.
Lee Greenwood
About Lee Greenwood
Lee Greenwood is a country singer and songwriter who achieved widespread recognition for his patriotic anthem "God Bless the U.S.A.," written in 1983 and released in 1984. Over his career, he sold more than 25 million albums and charted eleven number-one songs. He earned Male Vocalist of the Year honors from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association in the early 1980s, and won a Grammy Award in 1985 for "I.O.U."
In this interview
- Recalls writing "God Bless the U.S.A." and recording it in the studio.
- Describes the song peaking around number 11 on country charts in 1984.
- Explains his resistance to letting the song become a political weapon.
- Notes the song's popularity with the National Guard and during Reagan's reelection campaign.
“I was resistant to letting it be a political weapon for anyone.”— Lee Greenwood, in this interview
Since this interview
In 2024, "God Bless the U.S.A." topped the Billboard Rock chart for the first time, forty years after its original release. The song gained renewed popularity during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections as President Donald Trump's rally introduction track. Greenwood released a 2025 compilation EP titled "America" featuring several patriotic songs.
