Bless the Broken Road
Encyclopedia
"Bless the Broken Road" is a song that has been recorded by several American country music
artists. It was co-written by Marcus Hummon
and members of the country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
in 1994, and recorded by Hummon a year later. Since then, Melodie Crittenden
, Geoff Moore
, Sons of the Desert
, Selah
, Jamie Slocum
, Carrie Underwood
, Buddy Greene
, and Rascal Flatts
have all recorded the song as well. Of the multiple versions that exist, Rascal Flatts' version is the highest-charting, becoming a Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts in 2005 and earning the songwriters a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
.
, Jeff Hanna, and Bobby Boyd, "Bless the Broken Road" was originally recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
on their 1994 album Acoustic. One year later, Hummon covered the song for his debut album All in Good Time
for Columbia Records
.
Sons of the Desert
recorded its own version of the song, for a planned second album on Epic Records
that would have been released in 1998. This album was not released, due to a dispute between the band and its label.
recorded the song under the title "Broken Road," and included it on her self-titled debut album for Asylum Records
. Released as the first of two singles from it, this version was a number 42 single on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts.
This version was featured on an episode of Dawson's Creek.
is a Contemporary Christian Artist Singer, who released "Bless the Broken Road" on his first solo album on September 21, 1999. This album was the first album separate from his band Geoff Moore and the Distance.
, who cut the song for the Feels Like Today
album. Released in November 2004, this version spent five weeks at number one on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
and earned a platinum certification
from the Recording Industry Association of America
. As of the chart dated March 19, 2011, the song has sold 2.02 million in the US.
On May 25, 2005, during a live performance on American Idol
by Carrie Underwood
and Rascal Flatts, an additional version was recorded. While not in wide release, and never included on an album, the version received enough radio airplay to enter the country music charts at number 50.
, with a vocal range from C4 (Middle C) to A5.
^ Carrie Underwood/Rascal Flatts version.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artists. It was co-written by Marcus Hummon
Marcus Hummon
Marcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
and members of the country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
in 1994, and recorded by Hummon a year later. Since then, Melodie Crittenden
Melodie Crittenden
Melodie Crittenden is an American country and Christian music artist. She initially recorded a self-titled debut album for Asylum/Elektra Records in 1998, the same year that she charted with her rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" ; she would later record the song a second time as a member of the...
, Geoff Moore
Geoff Moore
In 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a while, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990.They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U...
, Sons of the Desert
Sons of the Desert (band)
Sons of the Desert was an American country music band founded in 1989 in Waco, Texas by brothers Drew Womack and Tim Womack , along with Scott Saunders , Doug Virden and Brian Westrum...
, Selah
Selah (band)
Selah is a Christian vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. They have won three Dove Awards. The group has been featured on The 700 Club, The Hour of Power, and TBN.- History :...
, Jamie Slocum
Jamie Slocum
Jamie Slocum is an American Christian Worship leader, singer, songwriter and producer from Grants Pass, Oregon. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Nashville in the 1990s. He started as a staff songwriter for Curb Records. Music Mogul Mike Curb thought Slocum should be doing his own...
, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
, Buddy Greene
Buddy Greene
Buddy Greene is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player. Most of his recordings consist of gospel music, with a distinctly Southern flavor. Much of his music is influenced by country music and bluegrass music. Greene grew up in Macon, Georgia...
, and Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
have all recorded the song as well. Of the multiple versions that exist, Rascal Flatts' version is the highest-charting, becoming a Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts in 2005 and earning the songwriters a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
.
History
Co-written by Marcus HummonMarcus Hummon
Marcus Spencer Hummon is an American country music artist. After several years of playing in various bands, he eventually found his way to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a songwriting contract, and subsequently a record deal with Columbia Records, which released his debut album All...
, Jeff Hanna, and Bobby Boyd, "Bless the Broken Road" was originally recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...
on their 1994 album Acoustic. One year later, Hummon covered the song for his debut album All in Good Time
All in Good Time (Marcus Hummon album)
All in Good Time is the debut album of American country music artist Marcus Hummon. Released in late 1995 on Columbia Records Nashville, it produced one chart hit for him on the Billboard country charts in "God's Country, USA", which peaked at #73....
for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Sons of the Desert
Sons of the Desert (band)
Sons of the Desert was an American country music band founded in 1989 in Waco, Texas by brothers Drew Womack and Tim Womack , along with Scott Saunders , Doug Virden and Brian Westrum...
recorded its own version of the song, for a planned second album on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
that would have been released in 1998. This album was not released, due to a dispute between the band and its label.
Melodie Crittenden version
Also in 1998, Melodie CrittendenMelodie Crittenden
Melodie Crittenden is an American country and Christian music artist. She initially recorded a self-titled debut album for Asylum/Elektra Records in 1998, the same year that she charted with her rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" ; she would later record the song a second time as a member of the...
recorded the song under the title "Broken Road," and included it on her self-titled debut album for Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
. Released as the first of two singles from it, this version was a number 42 single on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts.
This version was featured on an episode of Dawson's Creek.
Critical reception
Billboard gave Crittenden's version a positive review in the January 17, 1998, issue, calling it "sheer poetry with a moving message."Chart positions
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 42 |
| Canadian RPM Top Country Tracks | 48 |
Geoff Moore
Geoff MooreGeoff Moore
In 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a while, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990.They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U...
is a Contemporary Christian Artist Singer, who released "Bless the Broken Road" on his first solo album on September 21, 1999. This album was the first album separate from his band Geoff Moore and the Distance.
Rascal Flatts version
The highest-charting rendition is by the country music group Rascal FlattsRascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
, who cut the song for the Feels Like Today
Feels Like Today
Feels Like Today is the third album from the American country music group Rascal Flatts. It was released in September 2004 on Lyric Street Records , has sold 5,149,000 copies in the United States as of October 18, 2009, and has been certified 5× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA...
album. Released in November 2004, this version spent five weeks at number one on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
and earned a platinum certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
from the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. As of the chart dated March 19, 2011, the song has sold 2.02 million in the US.
On May 25, 2005, during a live performance on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
and Rascal Flatts, an additional version was recorded. While not in wide release, and never included on an album, the version received enough radio airplay to enter the country music charts at number 50.
Song information
Rascal Flatts' version of the song is in the key of C majorC major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
, with a vocal range from C4 (Middle C) to A5.
Charts
| Chart (2004–2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
40 |
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
| US Country Songs Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... )[A] |
50 |
^ Carrie Underwood/Rascal Flatts version.
Selah version
SelahSelah (band)
Selah is a Christian vocal trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry. They have won three Dove Awards. The group has been featured on The 700 Club, The Hour of Power, and TBN.- History :...
, a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
band, covered the song in 2006 on the album Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album is an album from Contemporary Christian group Selah. It features the collaboration of other artists of the genre in each song...
featuring a duet vocal from Crittenden. Also released as a single, Selah's version peaked at number five on the Hot Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs
Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States....
charts.
Chart positions
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Songs | 5 |