Singer-Songwriter Camille Harrison Honors the Past, Inspires the Future

In a time of growing conflict and division in the United States, singer-songwriter Camille Harrison offers an expressive and elegant rendition of the iconic song “America the Beautiful.” Camille’s version reminds us of the beauty that exists in our country and among its people - encouraging unity, respect and compassion, despite our differences. As an accomplished adult contemporary singer-songwriter, Camille has graced the stage with legends like Hank Williams Jr., and Dolly Parton, and recorded with the renowned Floyd Cramer at RCA Studios in Nashville. Known for her versatility across genres including jazz, traditional pop and country, Camille also penned the Top 40 Billboard hit "Standing Still" for the Clark Family Experience and contributed to the soundtrack of "The Prince of Egypt."

“My intention for recording ‘America, the Beautiful’ is with this year being an election year in the United States,” Camille says, “there will be, and is, a lot of disagreement and discord, to say the least. I wanted to remind us to remember to see the beauty in America, as well as in our friends and neighbors. To be mindful of how we can keep encouraging each other instead of losing friendships or making enemies by having different beliefs, and to keep America beautiful and safe. I wanted to think of how I could contribute to that, and for me, it's pretty much always music. Creating something new and uplifting out of something classic was my goal.”

Drawing on the original lyrics, Camille reflects on the song's origins around Sept. 11 and the election year. “Having spent a good bit of time writing songs, I also think about where songs come from. As a country facing a fork in the road, it seems to me it’s a good time to reflect on where we as a country come from. To remain on the side of wisdom and light, we want to appreciate the bright blue sunny spacious skies, embrace the falling rain, and stand amazed by our majestic mountains that lyricist Katherine Lee Bates wrote of the sights she saw on a train to Colorado Springs, Colo., and remain in awe of the powerful and relentless oceans from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.”