NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Grammy Award-winning artist Lee Greenwood will sing his patriotic hit song “God Bless The U.S.A.” as part of the pre-race ceremony at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Greenwood is an icon in country music, with more than 30 albums to his credit, seven No. 1 songs and 25 charted singles and numerous industry awards.

He won the Country Music Association Song of the Year in 1985 for writing “God Bless the USA,” a song which has been voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America. The singer knows firsthand what it’s like to have loved ones fighting for the freedom of all Americans as his father served in the Navy and the Merchant Marine in World War II. 

“God Bless the USA” went far beyond what Greenwood expected when he wrote it in the back of his tour bus in 1983. The song has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001 and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat. It was also No. 1 on the pop charts after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. 

“USA is the song I always felt the need to write,” said Greenwood. “I wanted to have something that would unite Americans from coast to coast and to instill pride back in the United States. The song represents my family, my community and those men and women who have paid the price for the freedoms we all love and enjoy.”