Country music is full of songs about being a mother. Considered by many one of life's greatest joys, it can also easily be one of life's biggest challenges as well. We uncover four country songs that honor all aspects of motherhood, by Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and more.
Videos by Wide Open Country
1. "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride
Martina McBride, a mother of three, included "In My Daughter's Eyes" on her seventh studio album, called simply Martina. Written by James T. Slater, "In My Daughter's Eyes" says in part, "In my daughter's eyes / I am a hero / I am strong and wise / And I know no fear / But the truth is plain to see / She was sent to rescue me / I see who I want to be / In my daughter's eyes."
"In My Daughter's Eyes" became a crossover hit for McBride. In addition to it being a Top 5 country single, the song landed in the Top 5 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
2. "Mama's Song" by Carrie Underwood
Few mothers have had as big of an impact on a career as Carrie Underwood's mother, Carole. It was Carole who offered to drive Underwood to audition for American Idol, with Underwood winning Season 4 in 2005, and becoming one of country music's biggest stars.
Fortunately, Underwood honored her mother with "Mama's Song," released in 2010, a few months after Underwood married Mike Fisher. Fisher appears in the video, along with Carole, which depicts a bride after her wedding. Underwood wrote "Mama's Song" with Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen, and Luke Laird.
3. "I Called Mama" by Tim McGraw
McGraw released "I Called Mama" in May of 2020, in honor of Mother's Day. The song was especially timely since it was released as the world shut down because of the pandemic.
"On the one hand this song is literally, 'Hey, call your mom,'" the country music superstar explains (via Songfacts). "On the other hand, you look at a time like this, there are real hardships for everyone, and it's a great reminder that hearing someone's voice who knows you and loves you can help you get through anything."
The video showed footage of various mothers and their children, along with McGraw and his own family.
4. "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" by Patty Loveless
One of the hardest parts of motherhood is watching their own children struggle, which is what Patty Loveless encapsulates so well in this song. "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" was released in 1994 from Loveless' Only What I Feel record. The song is about a mother helping her daughter through a childhood move, a divorce, and later, the death of her own mother.
"It hit me so hard that I just cried every time I tried to record it," Loveless tells the Orlando Sentinel. "I had a real difficult time just getting through it."
