Perhaps more than any other genre, country music has been linked with patriotism, for better or for worse, for decades. Attend any number of country concerts, and you’re likely to see an artist pay tribute to members of the American military, or witness audience members waving American flags or chanting “U.S.A.!” at some point during the show.
Numerous songs with patriotic or military themes have dotted Billboard‘s country charts over the years. Some songs offer protest of societal and political current events at the time they were released, while others praise the freedoms and simple joys of life many Americans experience on a daily basis. Still, other songs delve into the sacrifices that American soldiers make — including giving up their lives — so Americans can enjoy freedom. The canon of patriotic country songs is deep, with many of them celebrating the tenacity of the American spirit.
In the 1960s, the United States Air Force also created the radio program Country Music Time, which featured country artists such as Eddy Arnold and Skeeter Davis performing their songs, while the program also served as a military recruitment tool. Meanwhile, artists including Johnny Cash, George Jones, Faron Young and George Strait have served in the military. Other artists including Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler and the late Toby Keith made it a priority to perform for military members on numerous U.S.O. tours. And at this year’s CMA Fest, singer-songwriter Craig Morgan, who has spent years as part of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve, took part in the panel Enlisted: Where Music Meets Military.
Here, we look at 10 country songs that center on patriotism in various ways, or honoring those who serve.
