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

Flashback To Martina McBride’s First No. 1 Hit “Wild Angels” That Sealed Her Star Status

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.
In 1996, Martina McBride hit a new career milestone. It was on that year that the country singer scored her first No. 1 hit with “Wild Angels.”  The song was released in 1995 as the second single and title track off McBride’s album of the same name. It also peaked at No. 5 on Canada Country Tracks charts.

Don’t You Think Wild Angels Are Watching Over Us?

Written by Gary Harrison, Matraca Berg, and Harry Stinson, “Wild Angels,” tells the tale of a woman who reflects on her relationship and realizes that there must be wild angels watching over her and her man – keeping their love alive. “Wild Angels, Wild Angels. Watching over you and me. Wild Angels, Wild Angels. Baby, what else could it be,” the song goes. Berg recalled to The Boot the story of how the three of them crafted the hit song. “I started it with Harry. I don’t know what we were smoking that day, but it was a very lofty, kind of poetic lyric. I heard it [recently] and thought, ‘What was I thinking?'” he said. “We demoed it, and every time Pat [Higdon, my publisher] would play it for somebody, they would say, ‘What does this mean?’ – I knew that the lyric was off, but they loved the music, they loved the title.” So Berg and Stinson brought in Harrison to rewrite the song. “And after we got that figured out, Martina snatched it up,” Berg said.  McBride, on the other hand, found epiphany with “Wild Angels.” Interestingly, the singer gave birth to her daughter Delaney in 1994, and the little girl’s laugh can be heard in the song’s intro.

The Song Comes With A Daring Video

The success of “Wild Angels” may also have been possible, thanks to its daring video. Directed by Thom Oliphant, the short clip was shot on top of the Clock Tower Building in New York City. Down below were angels touching the lives of people. The shoot was actually a precarious one. “Up there, it’s pretty dangerous. There’s nothing to keep you from stepping off the side of the building,” Oliphant said. “For every shot of somebody, from Martina sitting on the side to the extras, there’s three guys with safety harnesses crouched behind the ledge, making sure that those people are attached to a bungee cord.” The concept – as well as its black-and-white visuals – were inspired by the film Wings of Desire in 1987, which was about an angel who fell in love with a human woman. Make sure to watch it below.

Latest Stories

Zach Bryan performs live on stage in a previous concert, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ball cap, as he announces a surprise $50 Red Rocks show set for August.

Zach Bryan Drops Surprise Red Rocks Show With a $50 Ticket Cap and a Promise to Keep It Real

While everyone else is out here selling pit passes for the price of a mortgage payment, Zach Bryan just dropped a $50 Red Rocks show like it was nothing. On ...

Mark Herndon plays drums on stage with a smile, wearing sunglasses and a bandana, representing his longtime role with country supergroup Alabama despite feeling like an outsider.

He Was Alabama’s Drummer for Years But Mark Herndon Says He Was Never Treated Like He Belonged

He played the beat behind the biggest country band in the world, but they made sure he knew his place. Off to the side. Mark Herndon was the guy in ...

The Dixie Chicks pose in front of an American flag in white T-shirts, with the words "FREE SPEECH" written on their arms—capturing the controversial moment that reshaped their career after 2003.

Whatever Happened to the Dixie Chicks After They Crossed the Line in 2003?

They weren’t canceled. They self-destructed and dared people to cheer for it. Back in 2003, the Dixie Chicks were sitting on top of the world. They were country music’s biggest ...

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard perform on stage together in 2015, each playing a guitar and singing into microphones, proving their legendary status with the success of their album Django and Jimmie.

On This Day in 2015, Willie and Merle Proved They Still Ran the Damn Game With “Django and Jimmie”

You can’t kill country legends, especially when they roll into town smoking pot and topping charts. On June 11, 2015, “Django and Jimmie” officially climbed to Number One on the ...

Hank Williams performs “Lovesick Blues” at the Grand Ole Opry in 1949, standing at the WSM microphone in a pinstripe suit and cowboy hat, holding an acoustic guitar during his historic debut.

On This Day in 1949, Hank Williams Stepped on the Opry Stage and Blew the Damn Roof Off

They tried to keep him out, but when Hank Williams finally hit the Grand Ole Opry stage, country music would never be the same. June 11, 1949. The Ryman Auditorium ...

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN sit on a front porch singing a heartfelt acoustic rendition of “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” with John playing guitar and all three pouring raw emotion into the harmony.

John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN Team Up for a Soul-Crushing Take on “Go Rest High on That Mountain”

They didn’t win American Idol, but this performance says otherwise. John Foster, Breanna Nix, and IAMKNOWN reunited after the American Idol finale to deliver a stripped-down, straight-from-the-gut version of Vince ...

Miss Kay Robertson is struggling after Phil’s death, facing serious health issues and grief that cuts deep after 60 years of love, loss, and shared life.

Miss Kay Robertson ‘Not in the Best of Health’ After Phil’s Death According to Son Willie

She’s been with the same man for sixty years, and now she’s waking up every morning wondering why the damn house is so quiet. Phil Robertson is gone, and Miss ...

Trisha Yearwood performs passionately on stage in a black fringe dress, set to headline a benefit concert in Santa Barbara supporting first responders and wildfire-affected musicians.

Trisha Yearwood Set to Take the Stage in Santa Barbara to Raise Funds for First Responders

Country powerhouse Trisha Yearwood is heading west, and she’s bringing some real heart with her. The three-time Grammy winner has been tapped to headline the 2025 One805LIVE! benefit concert, an ...

Faith Hill beams backstage at CMA Fest 2025 in her first public appearance in two years, wearing a wide-brim hat and leather jacket while chatting with friends.

Faith Hill Stuns With Her First Public Appearance in Two Years After Stepping Out of the Spotlight

It’s been a long time since Faith Hill showed up where fans least expected her, especially without a microphone in hand. CMA Fest 2025 brought out just about everyone in ...

Faith Hill waves to the crowd on stage in a white dress, fueling speculation about her quiet retirement from country music after years of absence from the spotlight.

Did Faith Hill Quietly Step Away From Country Music? The Biggest Sign Yet She’s Retired

There’s going quiet, and then there’s straight-up ghosting a whole genre. Faith Hill hasn’t just taken a break from country music. She’s vanished. One of the biggest names in the ...