[MILWAUKEE] The nation singer, whose signature tune “God Bless the USA” is President Donald J. Trump’s walk-on tune, RedState, informed Monday night time what it was prefer to introduce the president as he entered the Republican Nationwide Conference, held right here July 15-18.
“It was an emotional second,” mentioned Lee Greenwood, who additionally sells the God Bless the USA Bible, which is endorsed by Trump.
“I knew it could be a standard second and never enterprise as typical, however it could have been a standard second if it hadn’t been a homicide two days in the past,” he mentioned.
“It additionally stuffed me with emotion. I used to be excited,” the singer mentioned. “I used to be so excited to know that my pal Donald J. Trump is alive, and he’ll take over not simply the RNC however the nation once more.”
A supply acquainted with the president’s Monday look informed RedState that Trump was overwhelmed by the group’s response when he took the stage behind the displays. As the group roared and Greenwood started to sing, he informed his employees he was going to attend to collect himself.
Greenwood mentioned he was shocked the president did not come out on the tune’s cue.
“I used to be taking it in, all of that,” he mentioned.
“My music’s on–I’ve already sung a verse of my tune, “God Bless the USA,” which was his entrance tune and was additionally his final,” mentioned the singer who has bought greater than 25 million albums with seven No. 1 hits.
“I am anticipating what is going on to occur within the subsequent few seconds,” mentioned the South Gate, Calif., native. “Is he going to wave on the viewers? What’s his conduct? He regarded just a little drained, however would not you be shot?
A Navy veteran’s son, who enlisted after the assault on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, mentioned he felt the necessity to assist his pal.
“I believe he was a bit apprehensive about what to anticipate from the group,” he mentioned. “He needed to have his folks, the conference, the individuals who needed to get behind him and be president once more.”
Greenwood mentioned Trump gave him a glance that informed him the president was going to be OK.
“The second he turned and checked out me — I knew this was the second I wanted to raise him up,” he mentioned. “I began singing the refrain once more after which made the intro, I might see a smile on his face and we had been all on his group.”
GREENWOOD: Trump requested me to enter Monday’s conference
The nation singer mentioned he is been singing his tune at Republican conventions since 1984, and it is President Ronald W. grew to become so intently related to Reagan that Greenwood agreed to promote the tune to Reagan’s presidential marketing campaign for $1. The deal by no means occurred as a result of his file firm, which really owned the rights, interfered.
Over the previous 4 a long time, the tune has been a mainstay at Republican occasions, but in addition at navy and different patriotic ceremonies; Nonetheless, it has taken it to a different stage with Trump and his gathering.
Greenwood mentioned Trump didn’t have the private relationship he has with different GOP presidents.
“I sang it at his first inauguration, and I sang it many instances at his rallies on stage and launched him,” he mentioned. “There’s plenty of religion there.”
Greenwood mentioned it wasn’t clear to him whether or not he would get an invite to stroll Trump on the Fischer discussion board on Monday night time, the identical day delegates voted to appoint Trump and his chosen working mate, Sen. JD Vance, Republican of Ohio.
“I believe even beneath his strain on Sunday, he mentioned to his group: ‘Name Greenwood, I would like him there on Monday morning, so he is out there for me on Monday night time,'” he mentioned.
“It wasn’t clear but whether or not I’d be allowed to introduce him, however solely to sing his favourite tune, so we did not know till Monday afternoon that we had been really going to do it,” he mentioned.
“I do know the president,” he mentioned. “I’ve been in his firm for fairly a while now, and it at all times provides me a possibility to precise my gratitude for his service to the nation.”
In his speech Thursday to just accept the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump name-checked Greenwood and his signature tune, turning to the smiling singer.
“I noticed a chart of Biggest Songs for America, it was primary on the chart,” the president mentioned.
“That is Lee Greenwood, No. 1, a really particular, lovely particular person, a ravishing human being,” he mentioned.
I sang my first tune for an American president on the RNC conference in 1984 for Ronald Reagan. Forty years later, I’m honored to sing for one more charismatic and highly effective President, Donald J. Trump! Thanks President Trump for combating so exhausting for this nation. It was a… pic.twitter.com/8j7Wn5dWHm
— Lee Greenwood (@TheLeeGreenwood) July 20, 2024
Greenwood: ‘God Bless the USA’ is the Elvis key to the unique story
Greenwood mentioned that as a result of his father served within the Navy, he at all times had a particular appreciation for the navy.
“I used to be a drum main in a highschool marching band, and I keep in mind marching with the navy band,” he mentioned. “I like self-discipline, I like pageantry, I like uniforms.”
Kicking off this martial tradition, the primary inspiration was his performing on the similar Las Vegas lodge the place Elvis Presley was headlining.
“I went to Nevada, and I stayed there a very long time,” Greenwood mentioned.
“Elvis labored in the identical room I did on the Hilton Lodge, now the Westgate, and I used to be the star of the lounge,” he mentioned. “Invoice Medley of the Righteous Brothers was my beginning act, and Elvis was in the primary room. I used to go to him on a regular basis.”
Throughout his Las Vegas period, Presley sang a medley referred to as “An American Trilogy”. The tune, organized by Mickey Newbury, is a mix of “Dixie,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the Bahamian folks tune “All My Trials.”
The tune was a plea for cultural unity in america and was a mainstay of his reveals for the final 5 years of his life.
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“When he did the ‘Trilogy’, Elvis was very respectful and I mentioned: “If I ever get my profession, I need to do the ‘Trilogy’ like Elvis, as a result of it is one thing the nation must have. unity,” he mentioned.
“Properly, lo and behold, I did not have a profession, however three years in Nashville, Tennessee, after which I sat down and wrote my very own music.”
Greenwood mentioned he respects the facility of his tune and what it has executed for him.
He mentioned, “There’s a giant part of listeners who’ve put my profession within the limelight with only one tune.” “As a rustic music artist and touring these 40 years, I do know that ‘God Bless the USA’ stands earlier than me.”
Greenwood mentioned the tune, which has topped the nation charts thrice, has an influence she did not anticipate from the beginning.
“The primary time I sang on stage in my touring present, it was in all probability a tune for a month or two, after which folks began standing up,” he mentioned.
“I noticed that what I wrote was a tune that introduced folks collectively like by no means earlier than.”
