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

Jeff Carson Showcased The Power of a Father’s Love In The Song “The Car”

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.

In 1995, country music artist Jeff Carson released “The Car” as the third single from his debut album Jeff Carson. The song not only reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks, but it has touched so many hearts.

It quickly resonated with many fans as it speaks to the power of a father’s love

This Father and Son Song Will Surely Touch Your Heart

Written by C. Michael Spriggs and Gary Heyde, “The Car” tells the tale of a young man whose mother had just passed away and was sadly left with his workaholic father. 

One day, when he and his father were driving, the boy spotted an old, beat-up Ford Mustang. He wanted to fix the car up with his father and make it new again even though he doesn’t need it – the truth is, he just wanted to spend some time with the old man. Unfortunately, they don’t have the money to do it. 

Years went by, and eventually, his father died. He received an extremely basic will, and at the bottom of the envelope, he found much to his surprise: the keys to the Mustang.

“It’s not the car you’re needin’, but it’s my chance to be with you. I hope you understand I always did the best that I could do. So little time, and we spent way too much apart. Now there will always be a part of us together in that car. Yes, there will always be a part of us,” his father wrote in a note.

Billboard positively reviewed the song, praising Jeff Carson‘s “warm, affecting voice” at the same time calling it “one of the most powerfully moving songs released this year.” 

Indeed, “The Car” is one of the best dedications to fathers and sons‘ complicated and beautiful relationships. After all, having a father, or being a father or a stepfather, the familiar bonds of fatherhood can be joyous.

“The Car” was Carson’s one of his fourteen singles that charted the Billboard country charts since he retired in 2009 and became a police officer. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Gravette, Arkansas, Carson spent his childhood playing harmonica and guitar and singing in church. 

In high school, Carson and some of his friends formed a band and managed to win second place at a local talent show. After graduating, the aspiring singer moved on to another talent competition held at a park in Rogers, Arkansas. The winner of that competition asked Carson to play in his band, which he did for four years until the band split up.

RELATED: Country Music Singer Jeff Carson Has Passed Away Following a Heart Attack

Finally, in late 1994, Carson made his debut and managed to release three albums in a career that spans fifteen years.

In 1996, Carson won the Academy of Country Music Video of the Year for “The Car.” You can watch it below.

Latest Stories

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani smiling together on the red carpet, even as reports swirl about the couple quietly living separate lives.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Reportedly Living Separate Lives and Friends Are Noticing

The red carpets stopped, the social posts quieted down, and now even the insiders are saying it out loud because Blake and Gwen might be heading in opposite directions. According ...

Bunnie Xo smiling backstage in a gold-patterned jacket, radiating confidence after sharing her seven mugshots and message of redemption.

Jelly Roll’s Wife Bunnie Xo Shares All Seven Mugshots and Says You’re Never Too Far Gone to Change

The internet saw seven mugshots, but Bunnie Xo saw a girl who survived hell and lived to tell it. Jelly Roll’s wife went full throttle into her past this week ...

Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll seated side by side, their united front reflecting the strength and faith behind her honest talk about infertility.

Jelly Roll’s Wife Reveals It’s Been Hard to Get Pregnant but Says It’s in God’s Hands Now

“It’s tough, but you just put it in God’s hands.” Bunnie Xo is walking through fire with her head held high, and she is letting the world see every step. ...

Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, and BigXthaPlug holding microphones, representing the bold 2025 CMA Awards performer lineup blending country and rap.

CMA Awards 2025 Performers List Shakes Things Up With Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, and BigXthaPlug

Luke Combs and BigXthaPlug are about to pray hard and raise hell on the CMA stage. The first wave of performers for the 2025 CMA Awards just dropped, and it ...

George Strait performing onstage in a plaid shirt, singing his first No. 1 hit “Fool Hearted Memory” alongside Texas fiddle legend Johnny Gimble.

Rare Clip of George Strait and Legendary Texas Fiddler Striking Country Gold With His First No. 1

The fiddle cried before George Strait even opened his mouth. It was 1982. George Strait walked onto the Austin City Limits stage still fresh from the rodeo circuit and barely ...

Dolly Parton and Linda Perry perform together, with Dolly singing into a vintage microphone and Linda playing guitar, during their emotional duet of “What’s Up?” that went viral online.

Dolly Parton and Linda Perry Just Gave Us the Duo We Never Knew We Needed With Viral ‘What’s Up?’ Cover

Dolly Parton could have sat this one out, but instead she pulled Linda Perry onstage and delivered a masterclass in timeless music with one of the most unexpected and unforgettable ...

Gracie McGraw performs an emotional rendition of “My Buddy” on stage in a black dress during PBS’s Veterans Day special, honoring soldiers with a heartfelt tribute.

Tim McGraw’s Daughter Gracie Honors Veterans With Emotional PBS Performance That Stuns Viewers

Gracie McGraw stepped onto the Carnegie Hall stage, opened her mouth, and every jaw in the room dropped. The daughter of country royalty, Gracie could have coasted on the McGraw-Hill ...

Jelly Roll stands at a microphone wearing a black jacket and backward cap during an event, captured in a powerful image that mirrors the frustration he later described after being treated like a criminal at a Louis Vuitton store in Sydney.

Jelly Roll Claims He Was Treated Like a Criminal Just for Walking Into Louis Vuitton in Sydney

Jelly Roll just wanted to shop for some high-end gear in Sydney, but instead, he says he was treated like a suspect in a crime he did not commit. After ...

Country singer David Allan Coe sings into a microphone with one arm raised, showing his tattoos during a live performance, reflecting on his complex and controversial legacy.

David Allan Coe Had the Talent but His Own Reputation May Have Ruined Everything

David Allan Coe had the talent to be a country music legend, but his reckless behavior and toxic reputation held him back from achieving the success he truly deserved. A ...

Miranda Lambert speaks candidly during her appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, a move that has divided fans and sparked controversy.

Miranda Lambert Went on Joe Rogan and Some People Are Not Happy About It

Miranda Lambert has stirred up a hornet’s nest with her latest move, appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast. For a fanbase that’s known her for years as a champion for LGBTQ ...