Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood
Greenwood in 2005
Member of the National Council on the Arts
In office November 2008 – November 2014
Nominated by	George W. Bush
President	George W. Bush Barack Obama
Personal details
Born	Melvin Lee Greenwood (1942-10-27) October 27, 1942 (age 74) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kimberly Payne
Children	2

Melvin Lee Greenwood (born October 27, 1942) is an American country music artist. Active since 1962, he has released more than 20 major-label albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts.

Greenwood is known for his patriotic signature song "God Bless the USA", which was originally released and successful in 1984, and became popular again during the Gulf War in 1991 and after the September 11, 2001 attacks (becoming his highest charting pop hit, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100). He also has charted seven number-one hits in his career: "Somebody's Gonna Love You", "Going, Going, Gone", "Dixie Road", "I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)", "Don't Underestimate My Love For You", "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)", and "Mornin' Ride". His 1983 single "I.O.U." was also a top-five hit on the adult contemporary charts, and a number 53 on the Hot 100.

Greenwood was born in South Gate, California, a few miles south of Los Angeles. After the separation of his parents, he grew up near Sacramento on the poultry farm of his maternal grandparents. At the age of seven, he started singing in church. In 1969, he joined the Chester Smith Band and had his first television appearance. A short time later, he worked with the country musician Del Reeves.