Lee Greenwood song celebrates 30th Anniversary

One of the most patriotic songs written in history, "God Bless the USA," will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Written by Grammy Award winning country singer, Lee Greenwood, the song has stamped a special place in music history. It is the only song of any genre to skyrocket the sales charts multiple times since its original release.

Radio stations and fans alike returned to the song in 1991 during the Gulf War, in 2001 following 9/11, in 2003 during the war in Iraq, and in 2009 following Hurricane Katrina. “God Bless the USA” had a resurgence in 2011, when Beyoncé recorded the song offering proceeds of the download to benefit the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund. That same year, it was the winning song on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and performed on “American Idol.”

Greenwood wrote “God Bless the USA” in response to the hurt and anger he felt following the downing of a Korean jet on a flight from New York to Seoul with 269 passengers aboard, including 63 Americans. Russian authorities shot the plane from the sky, killing all aboard because “they thought the airliner was on a spy mission.”

“I saw the senseless strike as a personal attack against our countrymen and it moved me to put pen to paper,” says Greenwood. “The song came so easily, it nearly wrote itself.”

The song hit an emotional chord with the American populace as well and “God Bless the USA” was named “Song of the Year” in 1985 at the CMA Awards.

“After 9/11, it was a song of unity and rebuilding and after Hurricane Katrina, it was a song for life and hope. It just makes me really proud that I've done something for the country and for my family. It's my family's heritage,” Greenwood told AOL’s The Boot.

For more information on Lee Greenwood, visit www.LeeGreenwood.com.