Editing America the Beautiful

{{Short description|American patriotic song}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|US National Anthem|text=the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|US national anthem]]}}
{{Redirect|Materna}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox anthem
|title          = America the Beautiful
|transcription  = 
|english_title  = 
|alt_title      = "Pikes Peak" (lyrics)<br />"Materna" (music)
|en_alt_title   = 
|alt_title_2    = 
|en_alt_title_2 = 
|image          = America the Beautiful 1.jpg
|image_size     = 
|alt            = 
|caption        = 
|prefix         = Patriotic
|type           = song
|country        = the United States
|author         = [[Katharine Lee Bates]]
|lyrics_date    = 1895
|composer       = [[Samuel A. Ward]]
|music_date     = 1883
|published      = 1910 by [[Oliver Ditson & Co.]]
|until          = 
|sound          = America the Beautiful (male vocalist) - United States Navy Band.opus
|sound_title    = "America the Beautiful" as performed by the [[United States Navy Band]]
}}

"'''America the Beautiful'''" is an American patriotic song. Its lyrics were written by [[Katharine Lee Bates]] and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster [[Samuel A. Ward]] at [[Grace Church (Newark)|Grace Episcopal Church]] in Newark, New Jersey,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/america_the_beautiful_began_in_newark_di_ionno.html#incart_river_index|title='America the Beautiful' began in Newark {{!}} Di Ionno|access-date=2016-09-18|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011091924/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/america_the_beautiful_began_in_newark_di_ionno.html#incart_river_index|archive-date=October 11, 2016|date=2016-03-17}}</ref> though the two never met.<ref>Andy Pease, [http://windliterature.org/2014/07/01/america-the-beautiful-by-katharine-lee-bates-and-samuel-augustus-ward-arr-carmen-dragon/ {{"'}}America the Beautiful' by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel Augustus Ward, arr. Carmen Dragon"] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222162222/http://windliterature.org/2014/07/01/america-the-beautiful-by-katharine-lee-bates-and-samuel-augustus-ward-arr-carmen-dragon/ |date=February 22, 2018}}), Wind Band Literature, July 1, 2014; accessed 2019-08-17.</ref>

Bates wrote the words as a poem, originally titled "'''Pikes Peak'''". It was first published in the [[Fourth of July]] 1895 edition of the church periodical, ''The Congregationalist''. At that time, the poem was titled "America".

Ward had initially composed the song's melody in 1882 to accompany lyrics to "Materna", basis of the hymn, "[[O Mother dear, Jerusalem]]", though the hymn was not first published until 1892.<ref>{{cite book|last=McKim|first=LindaJo|title=The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kde8yd0INHsC&pg=PA379|page=379|publisher=John Knox Press|location=Louisville, Kentucky|access-date=2012-06-22|year=1993|isbn=978-0664251802}} (McKim notes that Ward once  mentioned in a postcard that the hymn had been composed in 1882, however.)</ref> The combination of Ward's melody and Bates's poem was first entitled "America the Beautiful" in 1910. The song is one of the most popular of the many American patriotic songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100010615/full.html |title=Materna (O Mother Dear, Jerusalem) / Samuel Augustus Ward [hymnal&#93;: Print Material Full Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress |publisher=Lcweb2.loc.gov |date=2007-10-30 |access-date=2011-08-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605020952/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100010615/full.html |archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Americathebeautiful.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Commemoration plaque atop [[Pikes Peak]] in July 1999]]

In 1893, at the age of 33, Bates, an English professor at [[Wellesley College]], had taken a train trip to [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], Colorado, to teach at [[Colorado College]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-09-cl-1924-story.html|title=A Stirring Story Behind 'America the Beautiful'|last=Cooney|first=Beth|date=2001-11-09|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-08-21|issn=0458-3035|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125121425/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/nov/09/news/cl-1924|archive-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref> Several of the sights on her trip inspired her, and they found their way into her poem, including the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] in [[Chicago]], the "White City" with its promise of the future contained within its gleaming white buildings;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1238.htm|title=No. 1238: 1893 Exhibition|website=www.uh.edu|access-date=2017-08-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118033520/http://uh.edu/engines/epi1238.htm|archive-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref> the wheat fields of North America's heartland [[Kansas]], through which her train was riding on July 16; and the majestic view of the [[Great Plains]] from high atop [[Pikes Peak]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200000001/|title=America the Beautiful|work=The Library of Congress|access-date=2017-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705125158/https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200000001/|archive-date=July 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=FromSeatoShiningSea>{{Cite book |last = Ponder |first = Melinda M. |title = Katharine Lee Bates: From Sea to Shining Sea |publisher=Windy City Publishers |year=2017 |location=Chicago, IL|isbn = 9781941478479}}</ref>

On the pinnacle of that mountain, the words of the poem started to come to her, and she wrote them down upon returning to her hotel room at the original [[Antlers Hilton Hotel|Antlers Hotel]]. The poem was initially published two years later in ''The Congregationalist'' to commemorate [[Independence Day (United States)|the Fourth of July]]. It quickly caught the public's fancy. An amended version was published in 1904.<ref>{{Cite web|title=America the Beautiful|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200000001/|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Library of Congress|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108075227/https://loc.gov/item/ihas.200000001|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Baxter|first=Sylvester|s2cid=220810886|date=October 31, 1918|title=America the Beautiful|journal=The Journal of Education|volume=88|issue=16 (2202)|pages=428–429|doi=10.1177/002205741808801607|jstor=42767143}}</ref>

[[File:Grace Church Newark plaque.jpg|thumb|left|Historical marker at [[Grace Church (Newark)|Grace Church in Newark]] where [[Samuel A. Ward|Samuel Ward]] worked as organist, and wrote and perfected the tune "Materna" that is used for "America the Beautiful"]]
{{Listen|type=music|filename="America the Beautiful", performed by the United States Navy Band.oga|title="America the Beautiful"|description="America the Beautiful", as performed by the United States Navy Band
|filename2=America (US Army Brass).ogg|title2="America the Beautiful"|description2=[[United States Army Band]] Brass version|filename3="America the Beautiful", performed by the United States Marine Band in the 1950s.oga|title3="America the Beautiful"|description3={{circa}}1953 performance by the United States Marine Band|filename4="America the Beautiful", performed by the Second Marine Aircraft Wing Band of Cherry Point, North Carolina.oga|title4="America the Beautiful"|description4=Performed by the Second Marine Aircraft Wing Band of Cherry Point, North Carolina.}}

The first known melody written for the song was sent in by [[Silas Pratt]] when the poem was published in ''The Congregationalist''. By 1900, at least 75 different melodies had been written.<ref name="Collins2009">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SXYDQAAQBAJ|title=Stories Behind the Hymns That Inspire America: Songs That Unite Our Nation|author=Ace Collins|date=30 August 2009|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=978-0-310-86685-5|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508141241/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SXYDQAAQBAJ|archive-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> A [[hymn tune]] composed in 1882 by [[Samuel A. Ward]], the organist and choir director at [[Grace Church, Newark]], was generally considered the best music as early as 1910 and is still the popular tune today. Just as Bates had been inspired to write her poem, Ward, too, was inspired. The tune came to him while he was on a ferryboat trip from [[Coney Island]] back to his home in New York City after a leisurely summer day and he immediately wrote it down. He composed the tune for the old hymn "O Mother Dear, Jerusalem", retitling the work "Materna". Ward's music combined with Bates's poem were first published together in 1910 and titled "America the Beautiful".<ref>{{cite book
 |title=Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs
 |first=Ace |last=Collins
 |page=19
 |publisher=Harper
 |year=2003
 |isbn= 978-0-06-051304-7
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKsA1Qi8BBgC&pg=PA19}}</ref>

Ward died in 1903, not knowing the national stature his music would attain. The song's popularity was well established by the time of Bates's death in 1929.<ref name="Collins2009" /> It is included in songbooks in many religious congregations in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=America the Beautiful|url=http://hymnary.org/o_beautiful_for_spacious_skies/|access-date=2019-09-16|website=Hymnary.org|language=en}}</ref>

At various times in the more than one hundred years that have elapsed since the song was written, particularly during the [[Presidency of John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy administration]], there have been efforts to give "America the Beautiful" legal status either as a national hymn or as a national anthem equal to, or in place of, "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]", but so far this has not succeeded. Proponents prefer "America the Beautiful" for various reasons, saying it is easier to sing, more melodic, and more adaptable to new orchestrations while still remaining as easily recognizable as "The Star-Spangled Banner". Some object to the war-oriented imagery of "The Star-Spangled Banner", as well as its implicit support of slavery and racism in the third verse. Some who prefer "The Star-Spangled Banner", however, prefer it specifically ''for'' its war themes. While that national dichotomy has stymied any effort at changing the tradition of the national anthem, "America the Beautiful" continues to be held in high esteem by a large number of Americans, and was even being considered before 1931 as a candidate to become the national anthem of the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/america-the-beautiful-p2-2456277 |title=Who Wrote "America the Beautiful"? The History of America's Unofficial National Anthem |last=Estrella |first=Espie |date=September 2, 2018 |website=thoughtco.com |publisher=ThoughtCo |access-date=November 14, 2018 |quote=Many consider "America the Beautiful" to be the unofficial national anthem of the United States. In fact, it was one of the songs being considered as a U.S. national anthem before "Star Spangled Banner" was officially chosen. The song is often played during formal ceremonies or at the opening of important events...Many artists have recorded their own renditions of this patriotic song, including Elvis Presley and Mariah Carey. In September 1972, Ray Charles appeared on The Dick Cavett Show singing his version of "America the Beautiful." |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224212/https://www.thoughtco.com/america-the-beautiful-p2-2456277 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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==Lyrics==
{| style="white-space:nowrap"
|+'''America. A Poem for July 4.'''
|<poem>1893 poem (original)<ref>{{cite journal |title=America. A Poem for July 4 |journal=The American Kitchen Magazine |year=1897 |last=Bates |first=Katherine Lee |volume=7 |page=151 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uXbOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA151|access-date=2016-05-13 }}</ref>

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!   

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife,
When once and twice, for man's avail,
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!   

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!</poem>
|<poem style="margin-left:1em;">1904 version<ref name= "Sherr2001"/>
&nbsp;
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife,
When valiantly for man's avail
Men lavished precious life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.</poem>
|<poem style="margin-left:1em;">1911 version<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/americabeautiful00baterich |last=Bates |first=Katharine Lee |date=1911 |title=America the Beautiful and Other Poems |location=New York |publisher=Thomas Y. Crowell Company |pages=3–4 |via=archive.org}}</ref>
&nbsp;
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!</poem>
|}

==Notable performances==
[[File:Portrait of Katharine Lee Bates, ca. 1880-1890.jpg|thumb|Katharine Lee Bates, ca. 1880–1890]]

[[Elvis Presley]] performed it many times in concerts starting in 1976.

[[Bing Crosby]] included the song in a medley on his album ''[[101 Gang Songs]]'' (1961).

[[Frank Sinatra]] recorded the song with [[Nelson Riddle]] during the sessions for ''[[The Concert Sinatra]]'' in February 1963, for a projected 45 single release. The 45 was not commercially issued however, but the song was later added as a bonus track to the enhanced 2012 CD release of ''[[The Concert Sinatra]]''.

In 1976, while the United States celebrated its bicentennial, a soulful version popularized by [[Ray Charles]] peaked at number 98 on the US R&B chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-charles/chart-history/bsi/|title=Ray Charles Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117182630/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-charles/chart-history/bsi/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Ray Charles' 1972 recording of this song was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 2005.}} His version was traditionally played on New Year's Eve in [[Times Square]] following the ball drop. Charles performed the song at Republican National Convention in August 1984 and [[Super Bowl XXXV]] in January 2001.

Three different renditions of the song have entered the [[Hot Country Songs]] charts. The first was by [[Charlie Rich]], which went to number 22 in 1976.<ref>{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|page=350|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> A second, by [[Mickey Newbury]], peaked at number 82 in 1980.<ref>Whitburn, p. 297</ref> An [[all-star]] version of "America the Beautiful" performed by [[country music|country]] singers [[Trace Adkins]], [[Sherrié Austin]], [[Billy Dean]], [[Vince Gill]], [[Carolyn Dawn Johnson]], [[Toby Keith]], [[Brenda Lee]], [[Lonestar]], [[Lyle Lovett]], [[Lila McCann]], [[Lorrie Morgan]], [[Jamie O'Neal]], [[The Oak Ridge Boys]], [[Collin Raye]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[Keith Urban]] and [[Phil Vassar]] reached number 58 in July 2001. The song re-entered the chart following the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>Whitburn, p. 24</ref>

[[Barbra Streisand]] released an official music video footage during [[I Love Liberty|Norman Lear's Special]] in 1982.<ref>{{Citation |title=Barbra Streisand "America the Beautiful" | date=July 25, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDUlwGA680 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-18 |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123175343/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeDUlwGA680&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song has been sung before many editions of the [[WWE|WWE's]] flagship annual show [[WrestleMania]] beginning at [[WrestleMania 2]] in 1986, interchangeably with [[The Star-Spangled Banner]]. The song has been performed by artists such as [[Ray Charles]], [[Aretha Franklin]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Little Richard]], [[Boyz II Men]], [[Boys Choir of Harlem]], [[John Legend]], [[Nicole Scherzinger]] and [[Fifth Harmony]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1554016-ranking-every-america-the-beautiful-performance-in-wrestlemania-history|title=Ranking Every 'America the Beautiful' Performance in WrestleMania History|website=bleacherreport.com|access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref>

During her rise to stardom, R&B singer [[Mariah Carey]] sang the song at the [[1990 NBA Finals]].

[[Whitney Houston]] also recorded the song, covering Ray Charles' soulful rearranged version as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] to her 1991 rendition of "[[The Star Spangled Banner (Whitney Houston recording)|The Star Spangled Banner]]."

The song has been performed as part of the [[Indianapolis 500]] pre-race ceremonies since 1991.

The US singer/songwriter Martin Sexton recorded a gospel-tinged version on his LP "Black Sheep," released in 1996.

Popularity of the song increased greatly in the decades following 9/11; at some sporting events it was sung in addition to the traditional singing of the national anthem. During the first taping of the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' following the attacks, CBS newsman [[Dan Rather]] cried briefly as he quoted the fourth verse.<ref>{{cite news |date=2001-09-18 |work=Salon.com |title=Dan Rather's tears; Journalists don't cry on camera. That was before last week. |url=http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2001/09/18/rather/index.html |first=Stephanie |last=Zacharek |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522064419/http://archive.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2001/09/18/rather/index.html |archive-date=May 22, 2009}}</ref>

The hymn has been featured in the pregame for a number of [[Super Bowl]]s, the championship game for each [[NFL]] season. It is sung along with the "Star-Spangled Banner" and, more recently, the hymn "[[Lift Every Voice and Sing]]," commonly referred to as the "Black national anthem". For [[Super Bowl XLVIII]], [[The Coca-Cola Company]] aired a multilingual version of the song, sung in several different languages. The commercial received some criticism on social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, and from some conservatives, such as [[Glenn Beck]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/coca-cola-super-bowl-ad-angers-conservatives-article-1.1600849|title=Coca Cola's Super Bowl ad angers conservatives|website=NY Daily News|access-date=2016-05-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516091411/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/coca-cola-super-bowl-ad-angers-conservatives-article-1.1600849|archive-date=May 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/02/03/coca-cola-ad-super-bowl-racism/5177463/|title=Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad: Can you believe this reaction?|website=USA Today|access-date=2016-05-06|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423112636/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/02/03/coca-cola-ad-super-bowl-racism/5177463/|archive-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://time.com/3773/coca-colas-its-beautiful-super-bowl-ad-brings-out-some-ugly-americans/ | magazine=Time | first=James | last=Poniewozik | title=Coca-Cola's 'It's Beautiful' Super Bowl Ad Brings Out Some Ugly Americans | date=February 2, 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217085709/http://time.com/3773/coca-colas-its-beautiful-super-bowl-ad-brings-out-some-ugly-americans/ | archive-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> Despite the controversies, Coca-Cola later reused the Super Bowl ad during [[Super Bowl LI]], the opening ceremonies of the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] and [[2016 Summer Olympics]] and for patriotic holidays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/company-statements/its-beautiful-commercial |title='It's Beautiful' Commercial |website=Coca-Cola Company Press Center |date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103221342/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/company-statements/its-beautiful-commercial |archive-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="sbnation-cocacolaagain">{{cite web|title=Coca-Cola ran a Super Bowl commercial about diversity and inclusion and people are mad|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/2/5/14517202/coca-cola-america-the-beautiful-add-boycott-twitter|website=SB Nation|access-date=6 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206031556/http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/2/5/14517202/coca-cola-america-the-beautiful-add-boycott-twitter|archive-date=February 6, 2017|date=2017-02-05}}</ref> [[List of national anthem performers at the Super Bowl#Other patriotic performances|Notable performers]] at the Super Bowl include [[Ray Charles]], [[Alicia Keys]], [[John Legend]], [[Jhené Aiko]], [[Faith Hill]], [[Mary J. Blige]] with [[Marc Anthony]], [[Blake Shelton]] with [[Miranda Lambert]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Leslie Odom Jr.]], and [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]. [[Post Malone]] performed the song for the most recent game, [[Super Bowl LVIII]], in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=2023-09-10 |title=Two Queens in Flushing |url=https://thegig.substack.com/p/two-queens-in-flushing |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=The Gig |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012155918/https://thegig.substack.com/p/two-queens-in-flushing |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song, performed by 5 Alarm Music, is featured heavily in a dystopian action horror franchise [[The Purge]] in both trailers and films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE FIRST PURGE TRAILER |url=https://www.cavendishmusic.com/first-purge-trailer/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Cavendish Music |date=July 26, 2018 }}</ref>

In 2016, American five-piece girl group [[Fifth Harmony]] performed a rendition to honor the [[United States women's national soccer team]] on defeating [[Japan women's national football team|Japan]] 5–2 in the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final|Final]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™: USA–Japan |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/canada2015/match-center/300269506 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.fifa.com |language=en |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028184231/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/canada2015/match-center/300269506 |url-status=live }}</ref> to win the [[2015 FIFA Women's World Cup|2015]] [[FIFA Women's World Cup]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/canada2015 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.fifa.com |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521160241/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/canada2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> last July at [[BC Place]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]<ref>{{Citation |title=2015 Women's World Cup Final: USA 5–2 Japan | date=July 5, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCG2ycuoOg4 |language=en |access-date=2022-05-21 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521033651/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCG2ycuoOg4 |url-status=live }}</ref> before an undisputed [[AT&T Stadium]] audience of 101,763 to open [[WrestleMania 32]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=WrestleMania 32 results: Roman Reigns dethrones The King of Kings |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/32 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=WWE |language=en |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005134955/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/32 |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pop Sensation Fifth Harmony to Perform at WrestleMania |url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2016/03-21-2016 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=corporate.wwe.com |language=en |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417164231/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2016/03-21-2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Fifth Harmony sings 'America the Beautiful': WrestleMania 32, April 3, 2016 | date=April 3, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB9IfstIuiY |language=en |access-date=2022-05-21 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521033652/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB9IfstIuiY |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, [[Jackie Evancho]] released ''Together We Stand'', a disc containing three patriotic songs including "America the Beautiful."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7662439/check-out-jackie-evancho-rehearsing-for-her-presidential-inauguration-gig |title=Check Out Jackie Evancho Rehearsing for Her Presidential Inauguration Gig |magazine=Billboard |date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021044318/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7662439/check-out-jackie-evancho-rehearsing-for-her-presidential-inauguration-gig |url-status=live }}</ref> The song charted at No. 4 on ''Billboard's'' Classical Digital Song sales chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f0=ts_chart_artistname%3AJackie%20Evancho&f1=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Jackie%20Evancho |title=Search results: Jackie Evancho |website=Billboardbiz |access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

An abbreviated cover with the 1911 lyrics was performed by [[Greg Jong]] for the soundtrack of the 2020 video game ''[[Wasteland 3]]'' and is played during the final hostile encounters in the Denver section.

In 2021, [[Jennifer Lopez]] performed the song at the [[inauguration of Joe Biden]], as the second half of a medley with "[[This Land Is Your Land]]" by [[Woody Guthrie]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/8s2DViOOElA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210120200023/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s2DViOOElA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s2DViOOElA| title = Jennifer Lopez – 'This Land Is Your Land' & 'America, The Beautiful' – Inauguration 2021 Performance | website=[[YouTube]]| date = January 20, 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2023, [[Cécile McLorin Salvant]] performed the song at the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] woman's final. In her rendition, Salvant notably skipped ahead to the lyrics of the second half of the second verse while singing the first verse (replacing "God shed His grace on thee..." with "God mend thine every flaw...", etc.). Jazz Critic Nate Chinen wrote the following day of the performance, "What does it mean for a singer such as Salvant to inhabit a platform like the US Open, and implore God to mend America’s every flaw? What does it mean, in the Year of Our Lord 2023, for a singer like Salvant to urge the nation to confirm thy soul in self-control, and find liberty in law? I’m not going to spell it out, but it means a lot."

In 2025 [[Carrie Underwood]] sang the song [[A cappella|''a capella'']] after what were described as “technical difficulties” caused the failure of her backing music, during the [[second inauguration of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2025 |title=Carrie Underwood sings a cappella at Trump's inauguration after audio issues |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/01/20/carrie-underwood-trump-inauguration-performance/ |access-date=20 January 2025 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

==Idioms==
"From sea to shining sea" is an American [[idiom]] meaning "from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the [[Pacific Ocean]]" (or vice versa). Other songs that have used this phrase include the American patriotic song "[[God Bless the U.S.A.]]" and [[Schoolhouse Rock]]'s "Elbow Room". The phrase and the song are also the namesake of the [[Shining Sea Bikeway]], a [[bike path]] in Bates's hometown of [[Falmouth, Massachusetts]]. The phrase is similar to the Latin phrase "''{{Lang|la|[[A Mari Usque Ad Mare]]}}''" ("From sea to sea"), which is the official motto of [[Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Gary|title=From sea to shining sea|url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/from%20sea%20to%20shining%20sea.html|website=Phrases.org|access-date=24 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718031848/http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/from%20sea%20to%20shining%20sea.html|archive-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref>

"Purple mountain majesties" refers to the shade of [[Pikes Peak]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], which inspired Bates to write the poem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanheritage.org/Elementary_Extraction_15-America_the_Beautiful_TX.pdf |title=America the Beautiful |website=www.americanheritage.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904222648/http://www.americanheritage.org/Elementary_Extraction_15-America_the_Beautiful_TX.pdf |archive-date=September 4, 2012  |url-status=dead}}</ref> The idiom inspired the [[Colorado Rockies]] to have [[purple]] as one of its team colors.<ref>[https://www.mlb.com/news/rockies-stick-to-one-specific-shade-of-purple-c214749496 Harding, Thomas. "Rockies outfitted with one shade of purple," MLB.com, Monday, January 30, 2017.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526081644/https://www.mlb.com/news/rockies-stick-to-one-specific-shade-of-purple-c214749496 |date=May 26, 2022 }} Retrieved May 26, 2022.</ref>

In 2003, [[Tori Amos]] appropriated the phrase "for amber waves of grain" to create a [[personification]] for her song "Amber Waves". Amos imagines Amber Waves as an exotic dancer, like the character of the same name portrayed by [[Julianne Moore]] in ''[[Boogie Nights]]''.

==Books==
{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?167724-1/america-beautiful Discussion with Sherr on ''America the Beautiful'', November 27, 2001], [[C-SPAN]]}} 
[[Lynn Sherr]]'s 2001 book ''America the Beautiful: The Stirring True Story Behind Our Nation's Favorite Song'' discusses the origins of the song and the backgrounds of its authors in depth. The book points out that the poem has [[Common meter|the same meter]] as that of "[[Auld Lang Syne]]"; the songs can be sung interchangeably. Additionally, Sherr discusses the evolution of the lyrics, for instance, changes to the original third verse written by Bates.<ref name= "Sherr2001">{{cite book |title=America the Beautiful: The Stirring True Story Behind Our Nation's Favorite Song |first=Lynn |last=Sherr |publisher=PublicAffairs |location=New York |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-58648-085-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HdSmeAv3v-oC&pg=PA78 |page=78 |access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>

Melinda M. Ponder, in her 2017 biography ''Katharine Lee Bates: From Sea to Shining Sea'',<ref name=FromSeatoShiningSea /> draws heavily on Bates's diaries and letters to trace the history of the poem and its place in American culture.

== See also ==

* "[[God Bless America]]"

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Katharine Lee Bates America the Beautiful}}
{{Wikisource}}
* [http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000001/default.html MP3 and RealAudio recordings available at the United States Library of Congress]
* {{cantorion|pieces/3049/America_the_Beautiful_(Materna)|America the Beautiful}}
* [http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=5138 America the Beautiful Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004083315/http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=5138 |date=October 4, 2008 }} in Colorado Springs named for Katharine Lee Bates' words.
* [http://web.me.com/highlandsarchives/The_Highlands_Archives/America.html Archival collection] of America the Beautiful lantern slides from the 1930s.
* [https://www.partitions-domaine-public.fr/pdf/11748/Traditionnel-America-the-Beautiful.html Another free sheet music]

{{Frank Sinatra singles}}
{{List of official United States national symbols}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1895 songs]]
[[Category:American Christian hymns]]
[[Category:American patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Pikes Peak]]
[[Category:History of Colorado Springs, Colorado]]
[[Category:Songs based on poems]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Concert band pieces]]
[[Category:Ray Charles songs]]
[[Category:Whitney Houston songs]]