Lee Greenwood Calls U.S. 250th Anniversary “Beginning of Year of Celebration”

Country singer Lee Greenwood stated he expects to join President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., for events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, calling the milestone “the beginning of a year of celebration” meant to build unity.

Greenwood, whose signature anthem “God Bless the USA,” has become a staple at patriotic and military events, said he has been notified he will be part of the 2026 observances surrounding July 4.

“You got to remember in 1776 when we declared ourselves to be a nation, there was a year of celebration,” Greenwood said. “So, 2026, July 4th is the beginning of a year of celebration.”

Greenwood said he wrote “God Bless the USA” in 1983 and that it grew into an anthem over time, particularly through its association with the military.

“I wrote it in 1983,” he said, noting it earned honors in Nashville and later “became an anthem for the military first, I think, besides the genre of country music.”

He said he has performed it for “10 presidents,” including numerous times for Trump, and recalled its prominence after the Sept. 11 attacks, when he traveled to New York to sing for memorial-related events.

“9/11 was the really big time for us, where I came to New York three times,” Greenwood said. “I sang at Yankee Stadium twice for the policemen who were killed in the towers. It’s a very vivid memory.”

Greenwood also pointed to ongoing performances for service members, including an upcoming appearance at NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, which he described as “always a pleasure” because of the “military presence.”

Beyond music, Greenwood said he and his team have long supported troops through visits and charitable efforts. With today’s all-volunteer force, he said many Americans have less direct connection to those who serve, making outreach more important.

“When we go and visit the troops, there’s so much contact with their families back home,” he said. “We have great empathy for the fact that they’re deployed.”

He added his efforts include building homes for wounded veterans. “We actually build homes for wounded warriors,” he said.

Greenwood also expressed hope his music can encourage Americans to participate in national celebrations even amid political divisions and called for greater cooperation in Washington. “I just want the participation,” he said. “The cooperation, I think, is more important than anything, so that we can solve problems quicker.”

He further discussed his “God Bless the USA Bible,” a project inspired by naturalization ceremonies where his song is played as new citizens take oaths of allegiance. Conversations with immigrants about American history and faith traditions shaped the initiative. The Bible includes the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance, and a handwritten version of the song’s chorus, Greenwood noted, adding that a recent print run was due to strong demand.