Tim McGraw Shares the Story Behind His Song – “If You’re Reading This”

Tim McGraw Shares the Story Behind His Song – “If You’re Reading This”

As many stop and reflect on this Memorial Day about the sacrifices that the military make – one of the songs that a lot of people turn to is Tim McGraw‘s “If You’re Reading This.”

Tim premiered the song during the 2007 ACM Awards in Las Vegas – after his performance the crowd in tears shot to their feet for a standing ovation.

Since then, the track has held a special place for many people who not only relate the lyrics, but also…unfortunately have lived the story.

Tim shares the story behind “If You’re Reading This,” Brett and Brad Warren and myself wrote that song. I remember I was on an airplane, and I think it was a Time magazine article – and it was early on during the Iraqi war – and there was a story called ‘If You’re Reading This.’ And it was about soldiers writing letters and puttin’ ‘em in their pockets in case something was to happen. I’d read a few of the letters that they had written home of soldiers who had gotten killed in action.  And when I got home, I called Brett and Brad and they came over, and we sat in the living room and spent a day and wrote that song. And it impacted us when we finished writin’ it, but you’re so close to it when you write it. So, our nanny at the time, Jojo, was at the house, and we asked her to come in. We said, ‘Will you come in and listen to this song and see if it’s as good as we think it is?’ And then she just started crying when she heard it, so we felt like that we really had something special.”

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

Blogs

Universal Music Nashville Rebrands As MCA

Universal Music Group has just unveiled the rebranding of its Nashville operations to Music Corporation of America (MCA). The rebrand is led by recently appointed President/CEO Mike Harris and CCO Dave Cobb, with MCA continuing to operate and support their frontline labels: Mercury Nashville, EMI Nashville, Capitol Nashville and MCA Nashville, along with the newly…

Universal Music Nashville Rebrands As MCA

Universal Music Group has just unveiled the rebranding of its Nashville operations to Music Corporation of America (MCA). The rebrand is led by recently appointed President/CEO Mike Harris and CCO Dave Cobb, with MCA continuing to operate and support their frontline labels: Mercury Nashville, EMI Nashville, Capitol Nashville and MCA Nashville, along with the newly…

Carrie Underwood Reunites With Make-A-Wish Foundation Child 17 Years Later, Donates $235K From Vegas Residency To Charity

During her final show of her Las Vegas residency on April 12, Carrie Underwood was reunited with Noel Miller, a Make-A-Wish recipient with a severe heart condition she first met 15 years ago. The country superstar also donated over $235,000 to the foundation, a portion of which came from her residency ticket sales. Underwood, who…

Carrie Underwood Reunites With Make-A-Wish Foundation Child 17 Years Later, Donates $235K From Vegas Residency To Charity

During her final show of her Las Vegas residency on April 12, Carrie Underwood was reunited with Noel Miller, a Make-A-Wish recipient with a severe heart condition she first met 15 years ago. The country superstar also donated over $235,000 to the foundation, a portion of which came from her residency ticket sales. Underwood, who…

Morgan Wallen Claimed Post Malone Collaboration For His New Album After “I Had Some Help” Was Included On ‘F-1 Trillion’

In a new interview clip featured on Spotify to promote his new album, Morgan Wallen discussed his collaboration with Post Malone on their just released track, "I Ain't Comin' Back." The country superstar revealed how the song ended up on his upcoming album, I'm the Problem, instead of on Malone's F-1 Trillion. "This was written…

Morgan Wallen Claimed Post Malone Collaboration For His New Album After “I Had Some Help” Was Included On ‘F-1 Trillion’

In a new interview clip featured on Spotify to promote his new album, Morgan Wallen discussed his collaboration with Post Malone on their just released track, “I Ain’t Comin’ Back.” The country superstar revealed how the song ended up on his upcoming album, I’m the Problem, instead of on Malone’s F-1 Trillion. “This was written…

Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, LeAnn Rimes Among Performers Added To 2025 ACM Awards Lineup

Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and LeAnn Rimes lead the list of performers who have just been added to the live lineup at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards taking place on May 8.  The other new additions to the ACM performance roster are Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black,…

Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, LeAnn Rimes Among Performers Added To 2025 ACM Awards Lineup

Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and LeAnn Rimes lead the list of performers who have just been added to the live lineup at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards taking place on May 8.  The other new additions to the ACM performance roster are Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black,…

Self-Made Country Star Drew Baldridge Closes In On Another No. 1 With “Tough People”

Drew Baldridge finds himself on the brink of possibly securing another No. 1 hit with his current Top 15 single, “Tough People,” following up the success of his groundbreaking self-released No. 1 hit from 2024, "She's Somebody’s Daughter.” Working alongside Luke Combs to co-write the impactful song with Adam Sanders and Jordan Walker, Baldridge initially…

Self-Made Country Star Drew Baldridge Closes In On Another No. 1 With “Tough People”

Drew Baldridge finds himself on the brink of possibly securing another No. 1 hit with his current Top 15 single, “Tough People,” following up the success of his groundbreaking self-released No. 1 hit from 2024, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” Working alongside Luke Combs to co-write the impactful song with Adam Sanders and Jordan Walker, Baldridge initially…