Chris Janson and Steven Curtis Chapman Champion Patriotism and Gratitude with "America the Beautiful"

Country music artist Chris Janson is dedicated to fostering a sense of national pride and appreciation for liberty in his children. The multi-platinum selling singer recently joined forces with five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman to record a fresh rendition of the classic anthem "America the Beautiful."

The collaborative track made its debut live on stage at the Grand Ole Opry last month, featuring a children's choir that also appears on the recording.

"Truth — even in song — the truth always wins," Janson remarked. "So if you're just telling the truth you don't have to go back and lie about anything. You don't need to cover up for anything. You don't have to think about it twice. You just tell the truth the first time, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent, the truth is the truth. So those are the things I would like to instill in my kids."

The 40-year-old artist reiterated his deep affection for the nation, stating, "I love this country. I've said it so many times, like, we have freedom here like no other place. It's really amazing. So number one is you respect your flag."

Instilling Respect for National Symbols

Janson recounted a formative experience from his youth that underscored the significance of showing deference to the flag. In fourth grade, when it was his turn to retrieve the flag from the flagpole, he wrapped it around his shoulders, playfully imagining himself as a superhero.

He remembered, "I didn't think a thing of it. He was a veteran and he came out there and he scolded me hard and I did not understand what in the world I was in trouble for."

The teacher then explained that Janson had allowed the flag's edges to touch the ground. "‘Don't you ever let that touch the ground again," Janson recalled his teacher instructing him. "and I was like blown away. I didn't understand this until I was an adult. Until I really understood what freedom meant."

Appreciating the Gift of Freedom

From Janson's perspective, international travel often serves as a powerful reminder for Americans of the unique advantages of living in the United States.

Speaking about his own upbringing, he shared, "Coming from a pretty low class kid here from a trailer park, it's a --- I remind my kids all the time. Yeah, we got it pretty good, but don't forget it's a big deal to get to go out to dinner. You get to do that. It's a big deal. To walk to the fridge and have whatever you want at the snap of a finger, it's, a big. It's a blessing."

He further emphasized, "And it's something not to be taken for granted. But we are in a free country and we do have the honor and the privilege provided by our great servicemen and women to have a luxury of freedom, to have luxury to live the American dream and man, that's really important."

A Global Perspective on Liberty

Steven Curtis Chapman echoed this sentiment, noting that his own global travels have deepened his appreciation for being an American. He shared an anecdote about performing Christian songs at a Hard Rock café in Beijing, China.

During that experience, he considered the possibility of government intervention, perhaps being forced to stop his performance. However, he soon realized the more significant risk was faced by the Chinese audience members who wished to listen to his music.

Chapman observed, "You encounter that in places and suddenly your eyes are open to just what an amazing gift it is that we have" in the United States.

Legacy of Service and Enduring Gratitude

Chapman also highlighted the influence of his grandfather, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, whose service is acknowledged in their rendition of "America the Beautiful."

"I grew up just loving and respecting him and probably in many ways because of his service and his love for our country, a deep love for America and for the freedom that we have," Chapman stated. "And it is an incredible gift. And with any gift that we have, it's something to be stewarded. It's something never to lose the gratitude for, even with the brokenness and even with, you know, the things that we don't have easy answers for."

He continued by emphasizing the transformative power of gratitude: "Gosh, to just be grateful, gratitude just makes such a difference in my own heart, personally," adding that he recognizes "what a gift we have, the gift of freedom" to be able to sing songs expressing his faith "in a country where, you know, anyone can do that and sing about the things that are important or speak about the thing that they believe and are important."

Chapman concluded, "And it's a great, great, beautiful thing, and I'm very grateful for it."