Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard and their new duet “Undivided” set a patriotic, country tone Wednesday night to cap off the Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
The two sang from Nashville. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and heightened security concerns, most of the night’s performances were either on tape or given from someplace else besides Washington, D.C.
Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard were country music’s part of “Celebrating America,” a 90-minute primetime musical special to commemorate the installation of a new American president. Tom Hanks hosted the event, which also featured superstars from all musical genres, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend and Luis Fonsi.
Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard sang from Nashville near the Cumberland River, with the downtown skyline behind them.
The songs throughout the Wednesday night special featured decided themes — patriotism and unity.
Tim McGraw introduced the new song, saying “This song is a message of unity and faith and it stirred my soul.”
Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard Sang Perfect Song For Inauguration
And the song was perfection. Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard announced their collaboration earlier this month and released the song last week. Hubbard is taking a break from Florida Georgia Line.
Hubbard wrote the song last fall, while he was quarantining with COVID-19. He rode out the coronavirus on the tour bus parked in his driveway. He let all the emotions of the pandemic, the civil unrest from the summer, the presidential election, flow through him as he wrote a song about coming together.
And then Tyler Hubbard called Tim McGraw and asked him if he wanted to sing the song with him.
“I didn’t think we could need (the song) any more than we needed it last year,” Hubbard told CBS Morning News. “But apparently we still do.”
The two announced the new song only days after the insurrection at the US Capitol.
A sampling of the lyrics from the new song from Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard:
“I think it’s time to come together. You and I can make a change. Maybe we can make a difference, make the world a better place. Look around and love somebody. We’ve been hateful long enough. Let the good Lord reunite us, until this country that we love is undivided.“
Tim McGraw didn’t announce they’d be appearing at the Inauguration until this week. Garth Brooks represented country music at the Inauguration ceremony earlier Wednesday. He sang “Amazing Grace.”
For more Outsider coverage of the Inauguration, check out our stories here, here and here.
