SPOTLIGHT = Memorial Day (4 songs)

The Statler Brothers, “More Than A Name On A Wall”
Billy Ray Cyrus, “Some Gave All”
Tim McGraw, “If You’re Reading This”
Lee Greenwood, “God Bless The USA”

#1
The Statler Brothers’ Jimmy Fortune was inspired to write this song after a visit to Washington DC’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. This single debuted 05/13/989, spent 20 weeks on the country charts & peaked at #6. It was their last Top 10.

#2
Billy Ray Cyrus was inspired to write this song after a visit with a Vietnam veteran in 1989. The follow-up release to his 1992 debut single “Achy Breaky Heart”, this single did not receive the accolades it deserves; instead, after debuting 06/13/1992, it spent just 12 weeks on the charts & didn’t peak until 1993, at #52. Watch the video.

#3
Tim McGraw wrote this tribute after reading an article about war casualties in Afghanistan & Iraq. McGraw debuted this song during the 2007 ACM Awards (see video!) &, soon after, radio stations added the song to playlists. Without initial promotion or solicitation from Curb Records, the song hit the country charts 06/02/2007 & peaked at #3 for 2 weeks during a 25-week stretch; it crossed over & reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XoRQTERQdI

#4
Lee Greenwood wrote this song after his 1983 CMA Male Vocalist Of The Year win; in 1985, this single won CMA Song Of The Year. Hitting the airwaves 05/26/1984, this song (video features the original recording I remember!) spent 17 weeks on the charts & peaked at #7. Since then, it has been recorded & released many times. The most-recent & most-successful re-recording is Greenwood’s 2001 version, re-popularized after 09/11/2001; that edition peaked at #16 on the country charts & #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.