Independence Day (Martina McBride song)

"Independence Day" is a song by the American country music recording artist Martina McBride. The song was written by songwriter Gretchen Peters, who had first written the song around 1992. It was originally offered to musician Reba McEntire, who turned it down; Peters has since stated that she never heard of the song being offered to McEntire. She spent over a year and a half writing the track. It would be recorded by McBride for her second studio album The Way That I Am (1993). It was released on May 2, 1994, as the third single from the album. Peters would record the song herself and included it on her debut studio album The Secret of Life (1996).

Despite the title, the song is not about the U.S. holiday of the same name (although it is used as a double entendre) but instead about a woman in an abusive relationship burning down her house with her abusive husband. The song is told through the perspective of the daughter. It is loosely based off the story of Francine Hughes, a domestic violence victim who murdered her husband by setting his bed on fire. It has been highly misunderstood as a 4th of July anthem. It was used as the introduction song for conservative Sean Hannity's radio show, which Peters herself objected to, as the song was about domestic violence and not a patriotic song. It was also used by politician Sarah Palin.

The song has been regarded as McBride's signature song, being ranked 50th on CMT's 2003 list of 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music and number two on the 100 Greatest Videos in Country Music. Despite those rankings, the song reached only number 12 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Its initial limited success was due to many programmers refusing to play the song because of its message. McBride has questioned why songs about domestic violence are not played. Retrospectively, it has been considered one of the greatest country songs of all time. It won the CMA Award for Song of the Year at the 1995 CMA Awards, making Gretchen Peters the second female songwriter to win the award and the 14th to win the award solely writing the track. As of July 2015, the song has sold over 550,000 copies in the United States and has gone on to be certified Platinum.

Content
In the video, a daughter (Heidi Butler Prine) recalls a tragic incident she experienced as a child. Her mother (Darcie Jones) was involved in a domestic abuse incident with her alcoholic father (Aaron Wrench). On Independence Day, the daughter walks to the town fair and hears rumors going on about the father's abuse. Apparently the whole town knew about the abuse, but did nothing to help stop it. That day, the mother burns down their house, presumably with the husband and herself inside it, and the daughter is sent to a county home. The music video was produced by American director team Deaton-Flanigen Productions, consisting of William Deaton III and George Flanigen IV, and premiered on CMT on May 20, 1994.

The lyrics have a double meaning in that the woman in the story is finally gaining her "freedom" from her abusive husband. Thus, it is her "Independence Day." The title also refers to the fact that the events noted in the song happened on the United States' Independence Day, or July 4.

Critical reception
In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 45 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.

In media
Beginning shortly after September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, Sean Hannity began using part of the chorus as an opening bumper for his Premiere Radio Networks radio talk show. Writer Gretchen Peters objected to Hannity's use, arguing the song was about domestic violence, not patriotic values. Since she could not stop his use, she collected royalties from him every time it was played and used those royalties to donate to her causes, until Hannity's program dropped the song in mid-2014.

Personnel
Credits from album liner notes.
 * Joe Chemay – bass guitar
 * Ashley Cleveland – backing vocals
 * Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar
 * Vicki Hampton – backing vocals
 * Bill Hullett – acoustic guitar
 * Mary Ann Kennedy – backing vocals
 * Brent Mason – electric guitar
 * Martina McBride – lead and backing vocals
 * Steve Nathan – keyboards
 * Pam Rose – backing vocals
 * Lonnie Wilson – drums
 * Paul Worley – acoustic guitar

Awards and nominations
It received the RIAA Gold Certificate on December 12, 2018.

Notable covers
In 2002, singer Taylor Horn covered the song for her debut album taylor-made at the age of nine.

In 2003, Pat Benatar performed the song in a duet with Martina McBride on the CMT television series CMT Crossroads.

On American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Lil Rounds, and Tristan McIntosh have each performed the song on the show. Carrie Underwood also released the song as a B-side track with her single of "Inside Your Heaven".

In 2011, Little Big Town performed Independence Day as a tribute to Martina McBride, who was being honoured as part of ACM's Girls Night Out - Superstar Women of Country show.

In 2019, Martina McBride performed the song as the opener to the 53rd CMA Awards alongside a host of other women in country music. Those featured were: Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, Reba McEntire, Jennifer Nettles, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, The Highwomen, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle, Terri Clark and Sara Evans.

In October 2019, Kelly Clarkson performed Independence Day during the Kellyoke segment of her daytime talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show.

In 2021, the band American Aquarium recorded the song on their album Slappers, Bangers and Certified Twangers Vol. 2.