Super Bowl LVII: Who wrote 'America the Beautiful' and who sang it first? Babyface to perform song at mega event
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The stage has been set for the Philadelphia Eagles to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 12, 2023. Among the line of performers at the mega-event are Rihanna, Chris Stapleton, Justina Miles, Babyface, and others.
While eight-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, veteran pop-R&B singer Babyface will sing 'America the Beautiful', and Emmy-award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will sing the 123-year-old hymn 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'. As fans look forward to the mega event, here's a look at the history of the iconic song 'America is Beautiful'.
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Who wrote 'America is Beautiful'?
While the melody to 'America is Beautiful' was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A Ward in 1882, the words to the melody were given by Katharine Lee Bates, who had originally written it as a poem titled 'Pikes Peak', first published in the July 4, 1895, edition of her church's periodical 'The Congregationalist'. The song was named 'America the Beautiful' in 1910 and continues to remain one of the most widely sung patriotic songs in the country.
Ward's 1882 composition was originally intended for the hymn 'O Mother Dear, Jerusalem', which he had retitled 'Materna'. After Bates' poem was published, at least 75 different melodies, including one by Silas Pratt, were sent in to accompany the words. However, it was Ward's melody that stuck the chord, becoming one of the most popular tunes ever sung.
Who was the first to sing 'America is Beautiful'?
Since being named 'America is Beautiful' in 1910, the song has been sung by several legendary musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. Three different renditions of the song have also entered the 'Hot Country Songs' chart -- Charlie Rich's rendition, Mickey Newbury's version, and an all-star version performed by Trace Adkins, Sherrié Austin, Billy Dean, Vince Gill, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Toby Keith, Brenda Lee, Lonestar, Lyle Lovett, Lila McCann, Lorrie Morgan, Jamie O'Neal, The Oak Ridge Boys, Collin Raye, Kenny Rogers, Keith Urban, and Phil Vassar. While it is difficult to ascertain who was the first person to sing the song, it was first released by Oliver Ditson and Company, one of the major music publishing houses of the late 19th century.
