Reba McEntire emphasizes the power of prayer in her poignant new song "Pray for Peace," her first release in over four years.
The country singer explained the song's meaning on her Facebook page.
"I feel this song is a gift from God," wrote McEntire. "I have never worked a song as long as this one. It went from a bass drum, fiddle and singers to guest artists singing with me, adding more instruments, even a choir and bagpipe! It's an act of perseverance, prayer, hope, fellowship, and mostly love."
The singer also noted that she was inspired to write the song after spending time in God's creation.
"The idea to write the song 'Pray for Peace' came to me last year as I was walking on our place in Gallatin, [Tennessee]," she wrote.
"For days I'd sing, 'pray for peace,' over and over. It wasn't until several months later did the other parts start to fall in place. Some, not until we got into the studio to record it."
Fellow musicians Ronnie Dunn and Kelly Clarkson joined McEntire in the studio, singing background vocals along with a choir. For the song's inspirational video, the singer recruited people from all over the world to give the unspoken gesture of prayer.
Some of the clips include children, while others include U.S. soldiers, airline pilots, ranchers and even an entire village in Africa.
"Reba's song is a beautiful and creative way to encourage the world to pray for peace," says Lt. Daniel Mullaney, who served in the U.S. Army for ten years.
"In his word, God promises that He will answer prayers, and our broken world certainly needs prayer."
Well-known celebrities have also shown their support for the message of peace as well: country star Keith Urban posted a video on Facebook showing him, wife Nicole Kidman, and their two young daughters praying together while the song plays.
On Twitter, the song has received major attention, with hundreds of supporters tweeting the phrase "pray for peace."
"If we are God's hands & feet, then Reba is his voice! #PrayForPeace #SpreadTheWord," tweeted one user named Kim Hutson.
Former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson also voiced her support, tweeting, "So honored that Reba asked me to lend my voice to this new song she wrote! #prayforpeace."
Rolling Stone reports that this is the first new music McEntire has released in almost four years. Her last album was 2010's All the Women I Am. Thus far, is it uncertain if "Pray for Peace" will appear on a future LP.
