All American

Album: Remember Her Name (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Mickey Guyton lists some of the many things that make America. She touches on both small-town country themes (backroads, church pews, cold beer, Daisy Dukes) and those connected to living in the big city (lighters at a rock show, New York City lights, panhandlers asking for change). Then, on the soaring chorus, she asks: "Ain't we all American?"

    "This song embodies everything that makes America special," Guyton said. "From a Texas sky to New York City lights and Daisy Dukes to dookie braids, despite all our differences, we are all American."
  • Guyton wrote the anthem of inclusivity with Victoria Banks, Emma-Lee and the track's producer, Karen Kosowski. The same all-female writing quartet penned Guyton's song "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?."
  • Guyton recorded the song when she was very pregnant. She'd eaten before the first time she tried to lay it down, and couldn't sing because she had no room left. "My baby was taking over," she told Apple Music. Guyton had to return to the studio another day when she didn't have any food in her stomach.
  • Mickey Guyton sang the song in front of a giant American flag at the 2021 American Music Awards. At the end of her performance she told the audience: "No matter where you're from, your race, your creed, who you love. You're all American. Remember that."
  • Mickey Guyton sang "All American" at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

    "If you felt joy watching it [at home], it was a hundred times more joyful in person - the excitement, the sea of people," she told Billboard of performing at the convention. "There was every race, nationality. It was patriotic. There were flags and just people proud to be an American. I will never forget that moment. That was one of my most favorite moments that I have been a part of."

Comments: 1

  • Ruth Bolec Rutka from IlBeautiful song.
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.