Can We Just Be Grateful? Steven Curtis Chapman on America at 250

Steven Curtis Chapman grew up watching his grandfather Ruble Rudd — a Purple Heart World War II veteran who came home with shrapnel permanently lodged in his leg, the only survivor of his platoon — live out a quiet, grateful patriotism that never left him. That legacy is at the heart of a new song Steven wrote for America's 250th birthday, a reimagining of America the Beautiful with the same chorus and new verses, recorded with country singer Chris Janson and debuted at the Grand Ole Opry on July 31, 2024 — the same night Ricky Skaggs walked out to invite Steven to become the Opry's newest member.

Gratitude, division, and what happens when algorithms keep feeding us reasons to fight: Steven shares why he felt compelled to write a song that names the thing tearing America apart — including a lyric about algorithms that he was not sure belonged in a patriotic song but knew he had to say — and why his prayer for it is simply that people would lay down their weapons long enough to be grateful. He also opens up about the song Cinderella never becoming a number one because some Christian radio stations did not consider it a Christian song, why I Will Be Here was born from his parents' marriage dissolving, and why after four decades he is playing music with more joy than ever.

Highlights

• The Purple Heart grandfather who survived his platoon and gave Steven a lifelong love for the cost of American freedom
• The night he debuted the new song at the Grand Ole Opry and was immediately invited to become a member
• Why he put the word algorithms in a patriotic song and what he believes social media is doing to American unity
• How he and Chris Janson connected as Opry brothers and why Janson jumped at the chance to record it together
• Why Cinderella never reached number one because some Christian radio stations said it was not a Christian song
• The painful season behind I Will Be Here, written after his parents' marriage dissolved, and why it surprised him by becoming one of his most beloved songs
• The Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour, a string quartet, a full band, and why he is playing music with more joy now than ever
• What he told his record label when he started — and what they told him about his singing before they signed him anyway

Resources / Links / CTA

• 🌐 Steven Curtis Chapman website: https://stevencurtischapman.com
• 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevencurtischapman
• 🎵 Single: America the Beautiful with Chris Janson
• 🎤 Speechless 25th Anniversary Tour
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• 👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio

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