Believe

Album: Hillbilly Deluxe (2005)
Charted: 60
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This acoustic ballad features lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn, and describes the narrator's childhood encounter with an elderly man whom he calls "Old Man Wrigley." Despite having lost both his wife and son, "Old Man Wrigley" is able to keep going because of his faith in God and his belief that he will "see his wife and son in just a little while."
  • The song won the Country Music Association's 2006 awards for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year.
  • R&B singer and actress Jennifer Hudson covered the song on her 2011 album, I Remember Me. She told Entertainment Weekly why she decided to do her own version of this tune: "It has a gospel inspirational feel," she said. "It made the album feel complete. I sang it for Brooks & Dunn at their farewell concert and I fell in love with the song that night. I had to have it on the album and I sent my whole team on a mission to get it. Luckily, we were successful and I was able to record it and really put the Jennifer Hudson spin on it."
  • Brooks & Dunn recorded a new version of the song featuring Kane Brown for their 2019 Reboot project. The album features the duo performing some of their biggest hits with a selection of contemporary country stars.

    Kix Brooks told Bobby Bones in a radio interview that Brown blew him and Dunn away. "His records are one thing, but when you plug someone into a song like that, I think (Ronnie and I) both just kind of looked at each other when he starting singing and went, 'Wow, this is going to be good.'"
  • Jelly Roll teamed up with Brooks & Dunn to deliver a rousing performance of "Believe" during the 2024 CMAs. Their powerful vocals and emotional intensity captivated the audience and earned widespread praise. Brooks & Dunn won Vocal Duo of the year for the 15th time and the first time since 2006.

Comments: 3

  • Nancy Reynolds from JacksonvilleLove it. Who wrote the song, please?
  • Mike Gibson from Cleveland Tenn.I was on my honeymoon with Raeleena the first I heard this song. I told her I had to learn it . That was in 2005
  • Karen from Manchester, NhB&D is my husband's #1 favorite group; this song is MY all-time favorite B&D song. I would have loved to have seen the recording session, as it sounds like Ronnie totally loses himself in the music near the end. The power in the song is incredible. I saw Jennifer Hudson's version on the farewell concert. It was good - very good - but can't hold a candle to the original.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.