Page "America the Beautiful" Paragraph 80

Ray Charles is credited with the song's most well known rendition in current times ( although Elvis Presley had success with it in the 1970s ).

Charles ' recording is very commonly played at major sporting and entertainment events, such as the Super Bowl, and WrestleMania 2 ; Charles gave a live performance of the song prior to Super Bowl XXXV, the last Super Bowl played before the September 11 terrorist attacks, as well as during Game 2 of the 2001 World Series after the attacks.

He places the third verse first, after which he sings the usual first verse.

In the third verse ( see above ), the author scolds the materialistic and self-serving robber barons of her day, and urges America to live up to its noble ideals and to honor, with both word and deed, the memory of those who died for their country.

He also performed the song on Red Sox opening day at Fenway Park in 2003, though the game was eventually rained out.

A version with Alicia Keys was included in Charles ' 2005 duets album Genius & Friends.