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White House

It Pays to Be ‘Proud to Be an American’

A federal ethics filing by Lee Greenwood’s wife, made after her ambassador nomination, shows the MAGA star has racked up royalty checks for Trump’s favorite song.

Election 2024 Trump 24295854151032

The ethics filing also indicates that Lee Greenwood earned between $100,001 and $1 million in payments related to sales of the “God Bless the USA Bible” — marketed as the “only Bible endorsed” by both President Donald Trump and Greenwood. (Evan Vucci/AP)

By Dave Levinthal

September 23, 2026 05:48 p.m.

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The musician Lee Greenwood, President Donald Trump’s unofficial MAGA troubadour, earned up to $1 million in recent months from his song “God Bless the USA,” which the president routinely plays at political events and appearances.

Greenwood’s wife, Kimberly Greenwood, whom Trump nominated earlier this month as ambassador to Barbados and several other Caribbean island nations, disclosed her husband’s income stream in a new federal ethics filing, covering the months between June 2025 and June 2026.

The ethics filing also indicates that Lee Greenwood earned between $100,001 and $1 million in payments related to sales of the “God Bless the USA Bible” — marketed as the “only Bible endorsed” by both Trump and Greenwood.

While “God Bless the USA” easily stands as Lee Greenwood’s most lucrative recording in recent months, he also earned smaller royalty payments from several other songs in his extensive catalog, including renditions of patriotic standards “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” (up to $1,000 each). The Greenwoods are only required by law to disclose income amounts in broad ranges.

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Lee Greenwood’s all-but-forgotten recording of “God Bless Canada” — a 1989 adaptation of “God Bless the USA” that the musician recorded at then-President George H.W. Bush’s behest — also earned the singer up to $1,000 in recent months amid diplomatic and trade disputes between the United States and Canada.

The song includes the lyrics:From the shores of Nova Scotia / To the forest in BC / From Montreal to Winnipeg / From sea to shining sea / From Detroit we can see her / Above the USA / ’Cause there’s pride in every Canadian heart / And it’s time to stand and say

Lee Greenwood also earned “monetization payments” from Facebook, X and the custom video platform Cameo, according to his wife’s filing, which did not specify income amounts.

A representative for Lee Greenwood could not immediately be reached for comment.Lee Greenwood has personally performed alongside Trump on numerous occasions, including at the president’s 2025 inauguration festivities, the July 4 celebration this year in Washington and earlier this month at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas.

Kimberly Greenwood herself reported owning an extensive stock and financial investment portfolio worth millions of dollars.In a federal ethics agreement Kimberly Greenwood signed Sept. 4, she pledged to “not participate personally and substantially” in matters that have a “direct and predictable effect on Lee Greenwood Inc.,” her husband’s entertainment company.

She also pledged to resign her position with Greenwood Productions Inc. and “avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest” if confirmed as ambassador, according to the agreement.

Author

STAFF_Dave Levinthal_MUG-500px.png Dave Levinthal is an editor at The Washington Sun.

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