Did Lee Greenwood write “Proud To Be An American”? Story explored as singer performs at Trump’s birthday military parade

Lee Greenwood performed his patriotic anthem God Bless the U.S.A. at the military parade in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on June 14, 2025.

The singer also took to X to share a clip of his performance with his followers. He wrote:

“What an unforgettable honor to perform “God Bless the USA” for the Army’s 250th birthday—standing before thousands of soldiers and the Commander in Chief. A moment I’ll cherish forever.”

According to a report in The Tennessean, Lee Greenwood wrote the patriotic song, which is commonly known as, Proud to Be an American. The 82-year-old who wrote and recorded the song explained in an interview with the outlet that the line,

“I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free,” resonated with his fellow citizens.

He said:

“I know that resonated with every American who has lost a son or daughter in conflict combat, and maybe just the strife of how we exist here in America. There’s no other country like this that’s free like we are.”

Let us explore the story behind the song.

How Lee Greenwood wrote the song “God Bless the U.S.A.?”

Singer Lee Greenwood wrote the song on the back of his tour bus in 1983. According to his interview in The Tennessean, he revealed what inspired him to write "God Bless the U.S.A." He explained that he never planned to release the song as he was into romantic songs, which caught the public’s eye; however, he changed his mind eventually.

He said:

“When I toured with so many different acts, I got inspired again to write the song that would eventually become America’s most recognized anthem.”

Greenwood told the outlet how he was surprised when Universal planned to release "God Bless the U.S.A." He said

“When it got on the radio, the audience heard it, it became the song for the National Guard of Tennessee, and then the military, and then with President Reagan and his ‘84 campaign, which I was part of, and then moved forward to Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf War – not in that order – and the (September 11) attack on America.”

“Each time, more Americans found “God Bless the U.S.A” to be a song of spirit and unity. It didn’t happen overnight.”

A report in the New York Post stated President Donald Trump adores Lee Greenwood’s song God Bless the U.S.A. which he has made a central anthem at his rallies and political events for nearly four decades.

Lee Greenwood was raised on a farm in Sacramento, California. After his parents divorced, his grandparents, Thomas and Edna Jackson, acted as his guardians while his mother worked for their family to care for him and his sister.

While growing up, he was influenced by music and listened to various genres. He played for the American Legion, the VFW, and marched in parades. He said:

“I was immersed in all kinds of music. I learned more than the piano while I was in junior high and high school, and by the time I graduated in 1960, I had formed my own band and left for Nevada.”

Trending

Lee Greenwood’s father was in the Navy; he joined it after the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941.

In an interview with News Nation’s Morning in America, Greenwood, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump for years, revealed how he and his wife “are both longtime USO veterans” and have constantly supported the military. He expressed his excitement at attending several events with the president following his birthday.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback