Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

“My Home’s in Alabama” is Alabama’s Single to Stardom

“My Home’s in Alabama” is Alabama’s Single to Stardom
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

The single “My Home’s in Alabama” led the American country band Alabama to prominence in the 80s. It became Alabama’s greatest hit after releasing it in January 1980 as the title track of their fourth studio album, My Home’s in Alabama. Written by band members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, the song is a biographical depiction of their early careers and roots. It simply states that while bigger things outside lay ahead, nothing would make them feel at home than Alabama. 

Although it didn’t peak at No. 1, the song climbed to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Before rising through the charts, the song had an unedited version included in Alabama’s 1979 independent release called The Alabama Band #3. Additional overdubs and production were added to it when they signed to MDJ records. The production team of Harold Shedd produced the song with Kristin Wilkinson and The Wire Choir for the strings, Terry McMillian for harmonica, and Willie Rainsford for keyboards. 

Alabama’s performance of “My Home’s in Alabama” was their ticket to the New Faces Show in Nashville, Tennessee, and a contract with RCA Records in April 1980. Cementing their stardom in the country sphere, an Allmusic review described the six-minute-and-27-second single as the “closest thing to country-rock.” 

Meaning of the Song

“My Home’s in Alabama” by the Alabama band is a tribute to the “Christian country home” of the members Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Jeff Cook. The single climbed to Alabama’s first Top 20 hit, making the band a household name in the 80s. What makes the song relatable is its raw and honest lyrics. It’s a great company when you’re feeling lost and homesick. 

The lyrics “I lost so much of me, but there’s enough of me to say that my home’s in Alabama, no matter where I lay my head” entails that despite visiting other places to perform, they will always remain “southern born and southern bred.” They took their dreams across the United States, yet, they never lost sight of who they are.

Making a living out of playing guitar late at night in Georgia barrooms, the singer learned how women fell for boy bands. Regardless, the singer held onto his music and played songs in Nashville, Los Angeles, to New York City. An ode to their home, anyone can relate to the song when anyone misses their home. 

When you’re looking for an iconic 80s ballad, you must not miss listening to Alabama’s “My Home’s in Alabama.”

Latest Stories

Darius Rucker passionately singing on stage before walking off after four songs and refunding fans when he lost his voice in Atlantic City.

Darius Rucker Walks Off Stage After 4 Songs Says “I Can’t Sing Anymore” and Refunds Fans

Sometimes the road just knocks the wind right out of you, or in Darius Rucker’s case, it takes your voice and leaves you standing there, hat in hand, with nothing ...

Dolly Parton speaks emotionally during an interview, sharing why she’s putting new songs on hold while grieving her husband Carl Dean.

Dolly Parton Says She’s Putting New Songs on Hold While She Grieves for Her Husband

Sometimes the queen of country needs a quiet moment, too. Dolly Parton has been writing songs longer than some of her fans have been alive, turning heartbreak, hope, faith, and ...

Kelly Clarkson sings passionately onstage in Vegas, fulfilling Dolly Parton’s special request with her stunning cover of “I Will Always Love You.”

Kelly Clarkson Grants Dolly Parton’s Special Song Request With Stunning “I Will Always Love You” in Vegas

Sometimes you just shut your mouth and do what the queen tells you to do. That’s exactly what Kelly Clarkson did when Dolly Parton herself slid into her Instagram comments ...

Miranda Lambert sings onstage in Miami wearing a cowboy hat and black shirt during her bittersweet tribute to her bandmate’s late father.

Miranda Lambert’s Bittersweet Miami Tribute to Bandmate’s Late Father Leaves Fans in Tears

Sometimes the moments that hit the hardest on tour don’t even happen under the spotlight. Miranda Lambert has spent the better part of two decades reminding country music what it ...

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley stand together at a bar amid speculation about whether the duo is done for good and what really happened between them.

Is Florida Georgia Line Done for Good and What Really Happened Between Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley?

Sometimes, the bigger the stage, the messier the backstory, and Florida Georgia Line has always been a prime example of that. When Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley first teamed up ...

Kane Brown performs onstage wearing a “FAMILY” hat, after revealing a songwriter once refused to work with him over his skin color but came back when he got famous.

Kane Brown Says Songwriter Refused to Work With Him Over Skin Color and Came Crawling Back When He Got Famous

Sometimes success tastes a little sweeter when you remember who shut the door on you in the first place. Kane Brown is no stranger to breaking records and topping charts, ...

Noah Cyrus stands on the Grand Ole Opry stage in a white lace dress, singing into a microphone with a drummer playing behind her.

Noah Cyrus Finally Makes Opry Debut on an Emotional Night She’ll Never Forget

Sometimes, a family name can open every door and still feel heavy as hell to carry once you step into the spotlight yourself. That’s what went down when Noah Cyrus ...

Travis Tritt smiles in a black cowboy hat and shirt while performing "Good Ol' Boys" with a microphone in front of an American flag backdrop.

Travis Tritt Honors Waylon Jennings With Cover of “Good Ol’ Boys” Theme From The Dukes of Hazzard

Sometimes a song is so tied to a legend that when someone else picks it up, you’re half ready to wince, but then Travis Tritt walks up, tugs his hat ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...