Country Songs About Military Families – Our Top 5

Billy Ray Cyrus' "Runway Lights" is the theme song for "Surprise Homecoming" - TLC's show featuring surprise homecomings by military members stationed overseas. Cyrus' song is moving - though we're a little skeptical that the "Achey Breaky Heart" singer has suddenly become those most patriotic singer in country music. Still, we feel a strong connection to it, and we think these lyrics really ring true: 

Lord knows I got a job to do/ I just can’t wait until it’s through/ I keep dreamin’ bout that homebound flight/ Looking for those runway lights.

Unfortunately and realistically not all who serve in our military come home safely to their loved ones. As unsettling as this fact is, there are family members of fallen soldiers who hopefully are able to find some sort of peace and solace from Mcgraw's 'If You're Reading This'.

If you're reading this/My Mommas sittin there/Looks like I only got a one way ticket over here/Sure wish I/Could give you one more kiss/ And war was just a game we played when we were kids

Military families often keep each other motivated, loved, and supported from great distances during times of service. I cannot begin to imagine how good it must feel to receive a package or a letter from my family member when I am in a desert or a jungle or some miserable place thousands of miles away from home and chicken 'n dumplin's. 'Letters From Home' is able to sum up the emotions of that service member who acknowledges the attempt to balance family and serving our country.

I fold it up an' put it in my shirt,/Pick up my gun an' get back to work/An' it keeps me driving me on/Waiting on letters from home

What is worse than being thousands of miles away from your military family members as they defend our freedom? Well, as a local family, the Burrs, have recently discovered--having to defend your signs of support can be a pretty tough and unexpected battle. Chely Wright's 2004 "Bumper of My SUV" is a song that comes to mind when thinking about the Burr family and their struggle to keep the sign in their front yard that supports their Marine son. "SUV" was written by Chely Wright after she was involved in a brief altercation with a woman who was angry at Chely for her U.S. Marine Corps bumper sticker.

As we approach the 10 year anniversary of September 11, 2001 most of us can still remember exactly where we were the moment we heard of the terror attacks on our country. I was walking across the campus of Northeast Louisiana University headed for the Journalism building. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Everything changed so quickly, for everyone, forever. We called our family members. We huddled together with each other in front of our televisions in disbelief. Alan Jackson wrote "Where were you" in response to the terror attacks, he later stated that he did not want to forget his emotions following the attacks.

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers/ Did you stand in line and give your own blood?/Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family/Thank God you had somebody to love?