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

Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This” Pays Tribute To Fallen Heroes

Tim McGraw's "If You're Reading This"
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Representing the soldiers who fought for their country is what Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This” single is all about. You’ll get a whirlwind of emotions simply by listening to the message of the song. True enough, everyone has appreciated McGraw and his songwriting team’s gesture to honor these fallen heroes.

Historical Patriotic Song

Many Tim McGraw songs have touched the lives of listeners. The country star knows that good music can change people and their perspectives. In this case, “If You’re Reading This” has shed light on the modern silent heroes who fight selflessly.

A little fact about this song:

 It was not intended for it to play on the charts during the first time Tim McGraw took it to the stage. The country icon performed the song on the May 15, 2017, live broadcast of CBS for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after the performance, radio stations played it through cutting that specific performance. It’s amazing how despite the lack of studio recording, it debuted at No. 35 on the Billboard Country Songs.

A take of a soldier’s letter to his family, some soldiers have a personal letter that would only be sent to his family if something happens to him or if he died. In this touching McGraw hit, The Warren Brothers duo, Brad and Brett Warren, were the ones who helped pen it approximately three weeks before the said awards night. They were inspired by a magazine feature about war casualties.

Inspiring Performance

What Tim McGraw’s songs bring to the table are genuine messages and emotions. Performing “If You’re Reading This” at the awards show brought tears to the audience when one hundred relatives of soldiers joined him onstage. They held a banner that read “Families of Fallen Heroes,” which touched many hearts among listeners and gave the group a standing ovation.

This track doubled on the charts and his other hit track, “I Need You,” a duet with his lovely and equally talented wife Faith Hill. Soon, both songs climbed the charts earning him awards after awards from prestigious music associations. It’s actually the second song of McGraw to chart from a live performance succeeding his 2001 explosive track “Things Change,” which was taped during CMA awards.

You can re-watch the historical moment of Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This” performance below.

Latest Stories

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...

Julian Ryan smiles with his fiancée and kids in a family photo before the Texas floods that took his life in a heartbreaking tragedy.

Young Dad’s Heartbreaking Final Words Revealed by Family After Texas Flooding Tragedy

Julian Ryan wasn’t just another name on the growing list of the dead in the Texas flood disaster. He was a father, a fiancé, and, in his final moments, a ...

Miranda Lambert performs onstage at a concert, now under fire for focusing on animals during the Texas floods tragedy.

Miranda Lambert Under Fire for Asking Help for Animals in Texas Floods While People Still Missing

Sometimes, doing the right thing still gets you dragged through the mud. Miranda Lambert, country’s resident dog lover and unapologetic Texas girl, is catching flak this week for what some ...

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

Texas Floods Leave 51 Dead Including 15 Children as Families Face Unthinkable Loss

One moment, it was just another summer night in the Texas Hill Country, the next the river rose like an angry giant and tore whole lives apart. According to AP ...

Keith Urban holds a CMA award on stage, showing the same trophies he often ships home so his mom can keep a room full of them.

Keith Urban Gives Away Almost Every Award He Wins So One Person Can Keep a Room Full of Them

Keith Urban doesn’t just pick up awards, he packs them up and ships them off faster than most country stars can find a shelf. For a guy who’s racked up ...

Toby Keith performs with his American flag guitar, the same patriotic spirit that fueled his song "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue."

The Untold Truth Behind Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)”

When Toby Keith sat down with a fantasy football stat sheet and scribbled out “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”, he didn’t just write a song. He lit a ...

Toby Keith plays guitar with an American flag design, capturing the patriotic vibe perfect for a Fourth of July country playlist.

35 Patriotic Country Songs to Turn Your Backyard Into the Ultimate 4th of July Party

Nothing says freedom like blasting a rowdy country playlist while you torch a few burgers, keep the cooler stocked, and watch your drunk uncle light fireworks way too close to ...

Keith Urban sits next to Nicole Kidman looking serious, a moment that echoes him shutting down talk about her steamy movie scenes.

Keith Urban Shuts Down Interview When Nicole Kidman’s Scenes With Younger Men Are Mentioned

Some lines just ain’t worth crossing, especially when you’re asking Keith Urban about Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron rolling around on screen. This week, the whole thing went sideways when ...

Tim McGraw sits outdoors with Faith Hill, leaning on a cane, sparking questions about his health but showing their strong bond.

Tim McGraw Using a Cane With Faith Hill Beside Him Raises Questions About His Health

Sometimes country music’s strongest cowboys need a little help standing tall, and Tim McGraw’s latest photo has folks asking how much longer he can keep carrying that torch. It’s not ...

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood smile together at an event, standing united amid the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit drama.

Garth Brooks’ Marriage With Trisha Yearwood Reportedly Unshaken by Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Nothing tests a marriage like ugly headlines, but Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are riding out this storm shoulder to shoulder. Since last October, Garth Brooks has been staring down ...