Just as Christmas is renowned for its carols, Independence Day boasts an array of iconic songs.
These stirring melodies echo the patriotism of the holiday, our appreciation for the visionary efforts of our founding fathers in shaping a united nation, and our deep affection for America. Classics like the Star‑Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, and Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A. instantly come to mind. More recently, John Denver’s Country Roads has found renewed popularity during events like the World Cup.
Naturally, among these beloved anthems is God Bless America, a song that continues to be passionately sung by crowds nationwide.
Yet, have you ever wondered about its origins or who composed this revered piece?
The inaugural public performance took place in 1938 to honor Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. However, the history of the song traces back to 1918. It was penned by the legendary Irving Berlin, often celebrated as “The Dean of American Songwriters.” Berlin wrote the song two decades prior, but it wasn’t until 1938 that a revised version captivated audiences in its public debut.
November 9, 1938
In [a] remarkable letter, songwriter Irving Berlin writes to fellow composer Harry Ruby on the eve of “God Bless America’s” reintroduction to the world. The timing is chilling as the letter was written on the eve of the Kristallnacht program (Nov. 9–10, 1938) in Nazi Germany. Berlin reveals that Kate Smith will sing it the next night on national radio—reviving a forgotten WWI-era tune that would become a defining American anthem. This letter, written just one day before Smith’s Armistice Day broadcast, captures the quiet beginnings of what would become one of the most patriotic songs in U.S. history.
“God Bless America,” written by Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin), a Jewish immigrant from Russia, became a timeless patriotic anthem. First penned in 1918 and revised in 1938, it reflects Berlin’s deep love for his adopted country. pic.twitter.com/ucyM8vIZ0f
— Reuven Goldstein (@curatorWH) July 1, 2026
Hat tip to my friend and California state senate candidate for the 22nd district, Mike Netter, for sharing the following post.
Here is the first time ever God Bless America was sung
Happy 250 America
Watch and spread
Like and smile pic.twitter.com/9xPMImc96W— Mike Netter (@nettermike) July 3, 2026
The song became an immediate classic:
This simple one-verse song became an overnight hit, and a hopeful song as war threatened. “It’s not a patriotic song,” composer Irving Berlin said in a 1940 interview, “but an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” Today, many Americans consider “God Bless America” an unofficial national anthem of the United States.
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For decades, you used to hear Smith’s version at New York Yankees and Philadelphia Flyers games, but the Left always wants to make sure you can’t have nice things, so in 2019, they dragged up other songs that she had sung nearly a century ago and got her canceled. The two teams no longer play her voice because some of the tunes were deemed to be racist.
Critics of cancel culture struck back, noting that Smith recorded one of the controversial “racist” songs with an African American man, and it was meant to be satirical, not hateful. Meanwhile, she didn’t exactly sound like your average KKK Grand Wizard in an interview:
Smith called for racial tolerance in 1945 in an address on CBS Radio, declaring, “Race hatreds, social prejudices, religious bigotry, they are the diseases that eat away the fibers of peace”. She went on to state “it is up to us to tolerate one another in order to achieve peace”.
In any case, you won’t hear her anymore at Yankees or Flyers games.
The Left is always trying to erase our history, but the problem for them is that they can’t. We’ve got the documents, we’ve got the videotapes, we’ve got the contemporaneous news stories. I hope you enjoyed Smith’s rendition.
Now fire up those grills, display your American flags, and let the world know that you are a loud and proud American who will not be erased.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. 🇺🇸🎆 pic.twitter.com/RgWxYQX6BO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 4, 2026
Editor’s Note: It’s America’s 250th birthday! Help RedState celebrate the greatest nation in history by honoring its past, defending its present, and preserving its future with reporting you can trust.