‘That’s Unbelievable!’: Lee Greenwood Celebrates 25 Million Music Sales Worldwide
By Movieguide® Contributor
Lee Greenwood has racked up a lot of career achievements, from a Grammy to seven No. 1 hit songs. He’s just added another one — a plaque marking 25 million sales worldwide.
Greenwood recently played the Grand Ole Opry, celebrating his successful music career as well as his 80th birthday.
During his show, Vice President and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry Dan Rogers, Ryman CEO Colin Reed, and singer Dustin Lynch presented Greenwood with the plaque.
“That’s unbelievable!” Greenwood said upon receiving the award. “I knew playing the Grand Ole Opry was going to be a birthday week highlight, but then to discover my recordings have surpassed 25 million sales worldwide—well, that has to be one of the greatest birthday gifts of all time; and yet, I wasn’t at the Opry to receive gifts, I was there to entertain and give gifts.”
Greenwood also used his show as an opportunity to present six specially-adapted homes to wounded veterans. Greenwood is a longtime ambassador of the wounded warrior organization Helping A Hero.
“Our military families put their lives on the line for this country,” Greenwood shared. “These new homes are designed to make what can be impossible, everyday tasks, possible again for our wounded. Building these homes for our heroes is a labor of love.”
Greenwood recently received another honor. Movieguide® previously reported:
Movieguide® Awards performer Lee Greenwood was honored on Sunday at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Florida 2022 conference as the third individual inducted into the CPAC Hall of Fame.
Lee Greenwood is best known for his hit song “God Bless The U.S.A.” which was released in 1983 and has become one of the most recognizable patriotic songs in America. President George W. Bush nominated Greenwood to sit on the National Endowment to the Arts Council and he has served in that capacity under four U.S. Presidents.
“Being inducted into the CPAC Hall of Fame would make Presidents Reagan and H.W. Bush and their respective wives First Lady Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush so proud. They were dear friends and believed in me, my career, and what ‘God Bless The U.S.A.’ stood for,” said Lee Greenwood. “I am honored and thankful for this moment as hit records and yearly award shows come and go, but the Hall of Fame is forever!”
Chairman of the American Conservative Union Matt Schlapp states “We are honored to bestow this award to a true patriot, Lee Greenwood. This is only the third time we have inducted someone into the CPAC Hall of Fame, and there is no one more patriotic and deserving than Lee Greenwood and his American ballad ‘God Bless the U.S.A.’”
In an interview with Fox Nation on Sunday just after Greenwood left the stage at CPAC, Lee Greenwood shares his reaction to receiving the Hall of Fame honor:
“I was taken aback by the fact they are giving me the Hall of Fame award. What is that – at CPAC?! And then I found out that [Wayne] LaPierre and [Rush] Limbaugh are the only other two who received that – and I’m a farmer and a musician – that’s high cotton!”
Known for his stand-out patriotism and support of the U.S. military, Greenwood has been honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s National Patriot’s Award and entertained troops on more than 30 USO Tours.
When Kayleigh McEnany of Fox Nation mentions that “some on the left would have you believe” there is not a link between America’s founding and Christianity, Greenwood responds “We didn’t start America to get away from religion. If we get back to roots and back to faith, this country will be okay.”
Later in the same interview with Fox Nation, Greenwood reflected on how his anthem crosses political lines.
“I’ve worked for three administrations including democrat and republican. You know, I’m not biased. ‘God Bless the U.S.A.’ may have been the Trump song, but it was also a song for America long before President Trump,” he said.
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