Latest news with #GodBlessTheUSA
Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Lee Greenwood: I'm Trump's court jester — and I do it for free
When Lee Greenwood was ushered into the Oval Office after President Trump's 2020 election defeat, he was told that his song God Bless the USA was going to play a big part in a future re-election campaign. 'He said, 'I'm gonna do this again. I will call upon you,'' Greenwood said. Unlike the many musicians who have distanced themselves from Trump, Greenwood, 82, has embraced his partnership with the president. Played at every Trump rally, God Bless the USA has become the definitive anthem for the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement. In Washington bars frequented by White House staffers, the jukebox inevitably switches over to Greenwood's 1984 classic at a certain stage in the evening. The chorus goes: '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/ And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today/ 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land/ God bless the USA.' Like the slogan 'Make America Great Again', the song was popularised by Ronald Reagan and used at Republican rallies in the 1980s. It has enjoyed periodic comebacks ever since, most notably in the aftermath of 9/11. Now it has become the soundtrack of Trump's presidency — and Greenwood, a regular guest at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, has returned to the top of the charts. The Times met Greenwood at a fairground in Pennsylvania last week, where an audience composed largely of farmers had gathered to watch him perform next to a shed containing a selection of prize-winning goats. Speaking before the show in his air-conditioned tour bus, Greenwood, who has an estimated net worth of up to $10 million, revealed that all his work for Trump is done 'gratis' — although he sells Trump-endorsed 'God Bless the USA' Bibles to fans for $59.99, or $1,000 for a copy signed by the president. This year alone he has sung at Trump's inauguration, Trump's birthday parade in Washington on the 250th anniversary of the US army and Trump's recent tour of the Gulf, where Greenwood sang for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and the Emir of Qatar. 'I didn't serve in the military,' says Greenwood, who began his career on the Las Vegas strip as a jobbing musician and still regards himself as an outsider in Nashville, his adopted home. 'I think this is my way of serving.' His relationship with Trump goes back to the 1990s. Kimberly Payne, Greenwood's wife and a former Miss Tennessee, introduced her husband to Trump, a New York property developer at the time, after meeting him through his ownership of the Miss Universe franchise. When Trump moved into politics, that personal friendship became a double act. The pair have mastered a routine that delights Trump's crowds. Likening his role to that of a 'court jester', Greenwood says: 'I play my song, they open the curtain and he makes a dramatic entrance. 'Whenever I worked with Reagan or [George] Bush, the president spoke, [then] I sang. Trump uses my song as an entrance, like a ta-da.' Although he prefers to identify as a conservative Christian rather than a Republican, Greenwood has embraced Maga politics. At one point, he inadvertently admits that Trump 'lost the election' in 2020, before pausing as he realises he has just contradicted the president's assertion the election was stolen. 'Um … I have my own view about that, but I don't think I'll go on record of saying whether he did or didn't,' he clarifies. There were plenty of Americans left disillusioned by the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, resulting in the deaths of five people. However, Greenwood believes that Black Lives Matters protesters engineered the chaos to discredit Trump by jumping out of buses into the crowd and antagonising his supporters. 'I think Black Lives Matter had a place to play in that,' he says. 'It was not the people in the march. When our crowd was incited, 'hey, let's go into Capitol', I believe a lot of them were drawn into that. It's a shame. You know what happens with a lynch mob. People get riled up.' Trump's supporters have promoted a number of conspiracy theories about the events of January 6, accusing the FBI, Antifa demonstrators and now, it appears, BLM of staging the insurrection. A 161-page report produced by a congressional committee in 2022 found Trump himself responsible for inciting the riot. Many of Trump's most devout Maga loyalists believe in such conspiracy theories. Last July's assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania — not too far from the Fayette County Fair — played into suspicions of a deep state trying to bring him down. The lyrics of God Bless the USA, urging believers to 'stand up' and 'defend' the country, echo the iconic image of Trump taken after the assassination attempt, with his fist raised and blood pouring from his ear. When Trump returned to Butler, after an apparent act of providence, Greenwood performed alongside him. 'They tried to weaken him financially and then they tried to kill him,' says Greenwood. 'And I say 'they'. I'm not sure how deep that goes because I have no proof.' Greenwood's song is brimming with nostalgia for America's past. Its resurgence as the soundtrack of Maga typifies a yearning for a return to American patriotism and traditional values. But what are Americans searching for in their past? 'We have a serious immigration problem,' Greenwood says. 'When I was growing up, there was no doubt who was an American. We fought for the same thing.' But what about the strand of American patriotism that embraces immigration? The spirit that is included in the Statue of Liberty, with its inscription beseeching the Old World to 'give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free'? 'The difference is assimilation,' Greenwood says. 'We assume those people who came across Ellis Island in the early days wanted to be an American. We have too many people here that don't want to be an American, that don't want to fit into our society.' He adds: 'I don't think we're going to have a civil war again. But we do need to redefine who we are. And I believe stopping illegal immigration is the reason.' Does he ever worry that he will go down in history as a one-hit wonder? 'I think it's amazing that a farmer from California could have had enough talent and the gift of music to be able to write something that moved my country,' he says.
Fox News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Lee Greenwood says patriotic anthem 'God Bless the USA' is untouchable even in a woke era
Lee Greenwood reflected on why he believes his patriotic anthem "God Bless the USA." has stood the test of time. The 82-year-old country singer released his signature song "God Bless the USA, which is also known as "Proud to Be an American," in 1984. Since then, the song's hit status has endured, with its popularity surging in both times of national unity and tragedy. During a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Greenwood shared his thoughts on the legacy of "God Bless the USA" and why it resonates from "generation to generation to generation." "I can't tell you how many kids, like a 6-, 7-year-old will send me a video, or their parents will send a video of them standing there waving a little flag and going, 'Proud to be an American,' you know, in their little tiny voice. That's where patriotism starts," he said. "And I'm pretty sure that because of how powerful 'God Bless the USA' has been since its release, over 40 years, and ingrained now into society," Greenwood continued. "And a lot of people who are woke about 'Oh, you can't sing the national anthem' or 'I'm going to disrespect the flag' – you can't disrespect 'God Bless the USA.' It talks about pride and patriotism." "And so I think that's why it's survived," he added. "And so many kids then will grow up, they're in their 20s and 30s, and they have kids and 'Hey, look, this is what I did when I was a kid. Listen to this song.'" Greenwood launched his music career in 1962 and signed with the Nashville division of the label MCA Records in 1981. The Grammy Award winner wrote and recorded "God Bless the USA" in 1983. The song was included on Greenwood's third studio album, "You've Got a Good Love Comin,'" which was released in May 1984. WATCH: Lee Greenwood explains why his song 'God Bless the USA' inspires patriotism throughout generations After "God Bless the USA" was released as a single, it reached the seventh spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song received wider recognition when it was featured in a video that played at the 1984 Republican National Convention with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan in attendance. Greenwood later performed the song at campaign rallies for Reagan when he was running for his second term and during the 1988 Republican National Convention. Since then, Greenwood has given performances of "God Bless the USA" during three presidential inaugural celebrations. The California native performed the song on the eve of President George H.W. Bush's inauguration in 1989. He also sang "God Bless the USA" at President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" event marking his 2017 presidential inauguration. In January, Greenwood performed the song when Trump was sworn in for the second time in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Trump used Greenwood's patriotic ballad as his intro music during his campaign rallies and at some of his biggest speeches, including the emotional moment he walked into the 2024 Republican National Convention following the assassination attempt against him last July. The song has also regained popularity during times of national strife or tragedy, including during the Gulf War and in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. "God Bless the USA" was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2015. While speaking with Fox News Digital, Greenwood admitted that he could never have imagined the impact that "God Bless the USA" would have over the years when he was first writing it. "That would have been ludicrous because first of all, I never had an idea we were going to release it as a single," he said. "I wrote that song while I was on tour in my bus. I was doing 300 days a year the first two or three years that I signed with MCA in Nashville." Greenwood continued, "And it was just a song I wrote one night because I've been thinking about it for a while. And my producer and I were talking about what album to put it on. And we had, I think, a fourth or fifth album for MCA already. Six number one songs." The country singer recalled that he and his producer traveled to Los Angeles where they played his album "You've Got a Good Love Comin'" for music mogul Irving Azoff, then the head of MCA Records. Greenwood told Fox News Digital that Azoff made the choice to include "God Bless the USA" on the album and release the track as a single. "If he'd have asked me and I'd have answered that question – because my producer and I looked at each other and said, 'I don't think I'll make the choice,'" Greenwood remembered. "I would have said, 'You've Got a Good Love Comin',' which is the name of the album. And I had $25,000 invested in a London train station [music] video [for 'You've Got a Good Love Comin']. It's all about the dollars and cents for me at that point." "But he's the one that said, and I guess he was politically connected, and he just said, 'I think that's the song will do our country well,'" he recalled of Azoff. "It was a leap of faith. I mean, [the] radio may not have played it because it wasn't country." During a November 2024 interview with Fox News Digital, Greenwood shared that he was a drum major in his high school's marching band and learned to appreciate his country from that early age. "I think that's where patriotism starts," he said. "The appreciation for the flag, what it means. And then later on you learn where the sacrifices come from the United States military and how many people have given their lives to keep the flag flying. There's a matter of pride there. Every time I hear the song, I relate to that. Every time I see a color guard who marches out." While speaking with Fox News Digital in May 2024, Greenwood opened up about what being a citizen of the United States means to him. "As I wrote [in 'God Bless the USA'], I'm proud to be an American," he said. WATCH: Lee Greenwood reflected on the meaning of America's milestone birthday next year The musician added that when people say, "'Well, you know, I'm an Italian American. I'm proud of my heritage.' Or, 'I'm African American. I'm proud of my heritage.' Wait – we're all Americans. And so it really gives me honor to say that I'm proud to be an American." Greenwood noted that "God Bless the USA" is frequently played at naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens. "When they hear my song 'God Bless the USA,' they understand what it means to be an American," he said. "And that's what it means to me as well." On June 14, Greenwood performed "God Bless the USA" at the 250th Anniversary Parade and Celebration of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., after Trump gave a speech. The event was a part of the celebrations leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. During his recent interview with Fox News Digital, Greenwood reflected on the meaning of America's milestone birthday. "I guess what you do is you measure us to the rest of the world," he said. "And I think it's actually astounding we've lasted this long and with all the conflict we've gotten through, our own Civil War, the Revolutionary War, of course, and then Korea, Vietnam, World War I, World War II." "And now getting in drone warfare, where we'll have less boots on the ground, less men killed, hopefully, and no more war – that here we are still standing," he continued. "And thank God for our Constitution. I think without the Constitution, we wouldn't have made it."
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Great American Media Announces 'An All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood,' Streaming Exclusively on Great American Pure Flix Thursday, July 3rd
Pure Flix PREMIUM™ Hosts 'Exclusive Conversations' Episode with Lee Greenwood Drops July 3 NEW YORK, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Great American Media announces "An All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood" to stream exclusively on Great American Pure Flix beginning Thursday, July 3rd. This marks the first time the special will be available to stream. Recorded in Huntsville, Alabama, the special includes guests Michael W. Smith + The Issacs, Gavin DeGraw, The Oak Ridge Boys, Scott Stapp, Big & Rich, and more. For subscribers who want to go behind the scenes with Lee Greenwood, Great American Pure Flix is hosting an "Exclusive Conversation," hosted by Bill Abbott for the platform's PREMIUM subscribers, also on July 3rd. Pure Flix is the nation's leading faith and family content streamer. To subscribe to Pure Flix, go to "Lee Greenwood is a quintessential part of celebrating our beloved nation's birthday. Lee's anthem 'God Bless the U.S.A.' has united generations of Americans, and there is no better way to honor the spirit of July 4 than with the voice behind the anthem who continues to inspire pride in our country and gratitude for our freedoms," said Great American Media CEO and President Bill Abbott. "As America 250 approaches, families are craving the traditions and faith that anchor us – Judeo-Christian values of love, unity, and service. These roots shape the kinds of entertainment we make at Great American, calling for conversations that celebrate our shared heritage and uplift the human spirit." Video: "An All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood" About Great American Media: Great American Media is home to a family-friendly portfolio of brands, including Great American Family, Great American Pure Flix and Great American Faith & Living. As the flagship linear TV network, Great American Family features original Christmas movies, rom-coms and classic series that celebrate faith, family and country. Great American Pure Flix is a leading faith and family streaming service that inspires, uplifts and entertains with content that you can confidently stream with the entire family. Other platforms include Great American Faith & Living, the unscripted companion to Great American Family that celebrates faith, family, and country every day and every season; Great American Adventures and Pure Flix TV, FAST channels (free ad-supporting streaming TV). Great American Media was established in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of US-based family offices. About Lee Greenwood: Throughout his expansive career, international country music icon Lee Greenwood has earned multiple CMA and ACM Awards, a Grammy Award for Top Male Vocal Performance on "I.O.U." in 1985, and a multitude of other prestigious award nominations. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums, seven No. 1 hits, and 38 singles, including timeless classics such as "It Turns Me Inside Out," "Ring On Her Finger Time on Her Hands," "She's Lyin'," "I Don't Mind the Thorns if You're the Rose," "Dixie Road," "Somebody's Gonna Love You," "Going Going Gone," and "You Got A Good Love Comin'." His iconic hit "God Bless the U.S.A." remains a hallmark of patriotism, charting in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001, and 2003) – the only song in any genre to do so. It also reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart shortly after 9/11. Greenwood continued his impressive career with significant milestones, including a Billboard No. 1 rock song (2024), the prestigious double-platinum certification for "God Bless the U.S.A.," and a recognition of his enduring impact through an "All-Star Salute to Lee Greenwood" in Huntsville, Alabama. This star-studded tribute featured performances by some of music's biggest names and celebrated Greenwood's incredible contributions to music and patriotism. In August 2024, Greenwood was honored on the Grand Ole Opry stage by Helping A Hero for his decades-long support of veterans and active-duty service members. Known for his unwavering patriotism and commitment to the U.S. military, Greenwood has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's National Patriot's Award and has entertained troops on more than 30 USO Tours. For more information, visit About Eden Gordon Media: Eden Gordon Media, LLC, is a respected public relations business that exists at the powerful intersection of national media and patriotism. With her extensive experience in national politics and broadcasting, Eden effectively elevates clients' profiles on both national and international stages. Throughout her diverse career, Eden has gained invaluable insights from the Halls of Congress and various Presidential administrations, allowing her to establish strategic partnerships that enhance her clients' public presence. As the radio show host on WMAL in the heart of our nation's capital, her expertise in strategic communications and public relations shapes every narrative she delivers, featuring interviews with influential leaders and curating relevant content that sparks meaningful discussions on national and family values. As a proud veteran spouse, Eden Gordon Media is devoted to championing pro-American clients, placing a strong emphasis on the principles of faith, country, and family. Great American Media Contact: Pam Slay Network Program Publicity & Talent Relations 818.415.3784 pamslay@ hello@ Debbie Davis Media@ Crosswind Media & PR Director of Client Services C: 214-802-8979 Lee Greenwood Media Contact: Jeremy Westby, jpw@ +1-833-537-2911,800 Scott Sexton, scott@ +1-833-537-2911,802 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Great American Media Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Crowd Sings Along to Lee Greenwood's ‘God Bless the U.S.A'
The parade crowd sang along and swayed to country singer Lee Greenwood's closing performance of 'God Bless the U.S.A.' Greenwood and his song have been a feature at Trump campaign rallies over the years.
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Trump to face protests against military parade across America
It follows days of protest in Los Angeles in response to immigration raids in the Californian city - and Trump's policy of mass deportations Donald Trump will face furious protests this weekend, timed to coincide with his birthday - and the huge military parade he has planned. It follows days of protest in Los Angeles in response to immigration raids in the Californian city - and Trump's policy of mass deportations. But while hundreds of cities are set to see people take to the streets, no demonstrations are scheduled for the one time and place you might most expect them to. Here's what we know about Trump's birthday parade, and the No Kings protests scheduled for this weekend. What's happening in Washington DC this weekend Saturday is Flag Day in the United States - and this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army. A fun fact that Donald Trump likes to roll out from time to time is that the United States Army is one year older than the United States. Next year, the Trump administration is planning a huge wave of celebrations to mark the country's birthday. But we digress. By blessed coincidence, Saturday also marks the 79th anniversary of the birth of Donald John Trump. So it seemed like a good time for him to ram through plans he's been trying to get off the ground since he saw the Bastille Day parade in Paris during his first administration. The Army's already-planned festival taking place on the National Mall is set to include "interactive displays, including robots and night vision goggles" and "free give-aways". Attendees I'll be able to meet "Army soldiers, NFL players, influencers and celebrities". Then, at 6.30pm, there will be a huge parade of military equipment along Constitutional Avenue North West, with the route taking it right between the Washington Monument and the White House. Later, Trump will give a speech on the Ellipse, the patch of parkland in front of the White House. Another fun fact, last time Trump gave a speech there, there was a violent attempted coup. Oh yeah, and singer Lee Greenwood will be singing his patriotic soft rock hit "God Bless The USA" live and in person. OK, so what about the protests? Hundreds - possibly thousands - of individual protests are scheduled to take place across the United States this weekend, all under the banner of "No Kings Day". The organisers say the protesters are a direct response to Trump's birthday parade. "No Kings" grew out of the "50501" movement - a previous day of protests whose name stood for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. "They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services," the group said on its website. "They've done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies." They add: "The flag doesn't belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. On June 14th, we're showing up everywhere he isn't - to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings." Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As tension between the White House and Europe heats up, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Where will protests be taking place on Saturday? The biggest protest is scheduled for Philadelphia, from 12pm - when protesters will march from Love Park to the Art Museum steps. But at least hundreds more protests are listed to take place at the same time in more cities and towns across the United States. Where won't there be a protest? Washington DC. And probably for good reason. Last week Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he would take a very dim view of any disruption of his parade. "We're going to celebrate big on Saturday," he said. "If any protesters want to come out, they will be met with very big force." It's been pointed out that he didn't say anything about the "big force" being reserved for violent protesters. "People that want to protest will be met with big force," he said - acknowledging he'd not heard of any plans for a protest in DC. "But this is people that hate our country. They will be met with heavy force."
