Standing at the pitcher’s mound of Yankee Stadium on October 31, 2001, country music legend Lee Greenwood felt an overwhelming wave of uncertainty. Just seven weeks after terrorist attacks had shattered the nation’s sense of security, he questioned whether his signature anthem “God Bless the USA” was the right choice for a city still wrapped in grief. The song, after all, was written as a rallying cry, not a eulogy.
But as the first notes filled the stadium that night before Game 4 of the World Series, something profound happened. Fans rose to their feet, many clutching photographs of fallen firefighters, and Greenwood realized his doubts had been unfounded. The moment would become one of the most poignant performances in American sports history.
A Song Born from Cold War Tragedy
The origins of “God Bless the USA” trace back to September 1983, when Soviet fighters shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, killing all 269 passengers and crew, including 63 Americans. The incident sent shockwaves through the nation during the height of Cold War tensions.
Greenwood was touring relentlessly at the time—logging approximately 300 days on the road annually. Unable to sleep after performances, he would stay up for hours in his tour bus, working on new material with an electric piano mounted on hinges to save space. It was during these late-night sessions that “God Bless the USA” took shape.
“I wanted to write it my whole life,” Greenwood later explained. “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.”
The songwriter drew on his diverse musical background—trained in music theory during high school, proficient in multiple instruments, with particular mastery of the saxophone and keyboards. The influences of John Philip Sousa’s marching compositions, Stan Kenton’s jazz arrangements, and Ray Charles’ soulful melodies all converged in this single patriotic anthem.
From Modest Hit to Cultural Phenomenon
When “God Bless the USA” was released on May 21, 1984, as part of Greenwood’s album “You’ve Got a Good Love Comin’,” it enjoyed moderate success, peaking at number seven on the Billboard country chart. By that time, Greenwood had already established himself as a major country music star, winning the Country Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year award in both 1983 and 1984—a rare back-to-back achievement.
The song gained significant visibility when it was featured in a film about President Ronald Reagan shown at the 1984 Republican National Convention. Throughout the late 1980s, Greenwood performed it at political rallies for George H.W. Bush, and the song was incorporated into television advertisements for Bush’s presidential campaign.
But “God Bless the USA” truly entered the national consciousness during moments of crisis. During the 1991 Gulf War, the song experienced a major resurgence. General Norman Schwarzkopf reportedly used it extensively, and Greenwood re-recorded the track for his 1992 album “American Patriot.” The song achieved the remarkable distinction of charting in the top five on country charts three separate times—in 1991, 2001, and 2003—making it the only song in any musical genre to accomplish this feat.
The Yankee Stadium Memorial
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Greenwood and his wife traveled to New York City to offer whatever assistance they could. Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s office requested that Greenwood perform “God Bless the USA” as part of a memorial service honoring the 343 firefighters who perished in the World Trade Center collapse.
The emotional ceremony took place before Game 4 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. The tribute featured multiple performances: Bette Midler sang “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Marc Anthony delivered “God Bless America,” and Greenwood closed with his signature anthem.

“That moment, when I stepped onto the podium at the pitcher’s mound and looked out into the audience was one of the most heartwarming moments for me,” Greenwood reflected in a 2011 interview. The performance became so iconic that it has been replayed countless times during subsequent 9/11 anniversary commemorations.
Following his 2001 performance, “God Bless the USA” reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100—the song’s highest pop chart position—and eventually achieved double platinum status, selling more than two million copies.

A Legacy of Patriotism
Throughout his extensive career, Greenwood has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments beyond his signature song. He secured seven number-one country hits, won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1985 for “I.O.U.,” and saw “God Bless the USA” named the CMA Song of the Year in 1985. His discography includes twenty-two studio albums, seven compilation albums, and thirty-eight singles featuring beloved tracks like “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Ring On Her Finger Time On Her Hands,” and “Dixie Road.”
The singer has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s National Patriot’s Award and has performed for troops on more than 30 USO tours. The Department of Homeland Security now includes “God Bless the USA” in the video shown during naturalization ceremonies for new American citizens.
At 82 years old, Greenwood continues to tour and has recently released new versions of his classic anthem, including a rock rendition with artist Drew Jacobs in November 2024 to commemorate the song’s 40th anniversary, and a collaborative a cappella version with Home Free and the United States Air Force Band’s Singing Sergeants.
“I believe it was blessed by God; I am a Christian and I feel that’s part of what I was brought to Nashville to do,” Greenwood has said of his famous composition. “The song lives apart from the rest of my career, and I’ll never write probably another song that’s that good or that moving or that powerful for the American people.”

More Than Just a Song
By his own estimate, Greenwood has performed “God Bless the USA” at least 5,000 times throughout his career. The anthem has been covered by numerous artists, including Beyoncé, who released a version in 2011 with proceeds benefiting the 9/11 firefighters fund, and Dolly Parton. The song has become standard repertoire at military ceremonies, sporting events, naturalization ceremonies, and moments of national importance.
CBS News has voted “God Bless the USA” as the most recognizable patriotic song in America, and its cultural impact extends far beyond the country music genre that birthed it. Whether during the Gulf War, Hurricane Katrina, or the aftermath of 9/11, Greenwood’s composition has served as a musical touchstone for Americans seeking comfort and unity during difficult times.

That autumn night at Yankee Stadium in 2001, when Lee Greenwood stepped onto the field with uncertainty in his heart, he couldn’t have known that his performance would become one of the defining moments of post-9/11 America. The doubts he harbored about whether an uplifting, spirited anthem could speak to a nation in mourning were answered by thousands of voices joining him in song, proving that sometimes what a wounded country needs most is not a lament, but a reminder of the values that endure.