‘It Wasn’t Pitched. It Was Found’: The Story of ‘God Gave Me You’

Before Blake Shelton scored a country hit with “God Gave Me You,” Christian songwriter Dave Barnes penned it to honor his wife.
‘It Wasn’t Pitched. It Was Found’: The Story of ‘God Gave Me You’
Country singers Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert perform during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2012. Christopher Polk/Getty Images
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Country singer Blake Shelton released another hit in 2011 when he debuted his powerful ballad, “God Gave Me You.” He recorded the track for his “Red River Blue” album in Nashville, Tennessee. But before the song ever made it to Music City, Christian songwriter Dave Barnes came up with the idea while vacationing in England.

What began as a “thank you” song for Barnes’s wife became one of Shelton’s most personal and successful singles, and a theme song for married couples inspired by its uplifting message.

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Rebecca Day
Rebecca Day
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Rebecca Day is a freelance writer and independent musician. For more information on her music and writing, visit her Substack, Classically Cultured, at classicallycultured.substack.com