Songs for Thanksgiving: Top 10 Tunes of Gratitude

We all have plenty to be thankful for as we approach Thanksgiving Day. So before we dig into the turkey and stuffing, or help ourselves to a second piece of pumpkin pie, hopefully these songs will serve as a reminder to take a few moments and express gratitude for our blessings in life.

10. 'Lucky Man,' Montgomery Gentry

Giving Thanks: "Got a house and piece of land / A few dollars in a coffee can / My old truck's still runnin' good / My ticker's tickin' like they say it should ... Lord knows I'm a lucky man."

The award-winning duo included this on their 2006 CD, 'Some People Change,' but it could still be their theme song today. After Eddie Montgomery weathered a painful divorce and successfully beat prostate cancer, he and singing partner Troy Gentry rebounded with a new album, a new record label and a new lease on life. Lucky men, indeed.

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9. 'Top of the World,' | Lynn Anderson

Giving Thanks: "Such a feelin's coming over me / There is wonder in most everything I see / Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes / And I won't be surprised if it's a dream."

The title track of Lynn's 1973 album was written by John Bettis and Richard Carpenter, who first recorded it with his sister, Karen, for the Carpenters' 1972 record, 'A Song for You.' Lynn's version of the song, which nearly reached the top (No. 2) on the country chart, prompted the Carpenters to release it as a single as well. The song's sunny message helped the duo's version of the prophetically-titled tune climb to the No. 1 spot on the pop chart.

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8. 'This,' Darius Rucker

Giving Thanks: "All the doors that I had to close / Everything I knew but I didn't know / Thank God for all I missed / 'Cause it led me here to this."

Darius scored his second No. 1 from the album, 'Charleston, SC 1966' (and fifth No. 1 country single overall) with a tune that was obviously one of his favorites as well. "I love everything about it," proclaimed the married father of three. "I love the danceability of the song. I love the words to the song. I love the sing-a-long chorus, and then you get the payoff: 'All that stuff, all that stuff led me right here.'"

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7. 'Everything Is Fine,' Josh Turner

Giving Thanks: "Everything is fine, fine, fine / Through the sunshine and the rain / I got a peace of mind / You know I can't complain / I make it a point to thank the Lord / When I got Him on the line / I'm feeling good and everything is fine."

The title track of his 2008 album was one Josh penned by himself, stepping "in the shoes of this average blue-collar American guy," he explained to The Boot. "[He] wasn't necessarily financially well-to-do, but he was well-to-do in life. Everything that he could ever want -- whether it was family or community or church, his dog or his truck -- he had, so everything is fine."

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6. 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy,' John Denver

Giving Thanks: "Well I got me a fine wife, I got me ol' fiddle / When the sun's comin' up, I got cakes on the griddle / Life ain't nothin' but a funny, funny riddle / Thank God I'm a country boy"

John liked this feel-good tune so much he included it on two albums -- first, on 1974's 'Back Home Again,' and then one year later on his live LP, 'An Evening With John Denver.' The second No. 1 country hit (and third pop chart-topper) of his career, the song continues to resonate with music fans of all genres today -- finding its way since then on to Billy Dean's 2005 CD, 'Let Them Be Little,' Canadian group the Road Hammers 2009 disc, 'The Road Hammers II,' and a 1981 LP by Alvin & the Chipmunks.

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5. 'But for the Grace of God,' Keith Urban

Giving Thanks: "But for the grace of God go I / I must've been born a lucky guy / Heaven only knows how I've been blessed / With the gift of your love."

This marked the New Zealand-born guitar slinger's first No. 1 hit, and for good reason. Acknowledging that his life could have gone the way of several characters in the song, including a lonely old man or the neighbors who argue, the singer-songwriter concludes it's only the "grace of God" -- and the love of a good woman -- that led him down a very different path.

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4. 'I'm Alive,' Willie Nelson

Giving Thanks: "And today, you know, that's good enough for me / Breathing in and out's a blessing, can't you see? / Today is the first day of the rest of my life / And I'm alive and well, God, I'm alive and well."

This song has definitely made the rounds. Written by Kenny Chesney, along with Dean Dillon and Mark Tamburino, the tune first appeared on Willie's 2008 album, 'Moment of Forever,' which was co-produced by Kenny (who later included it on his own album, 'Lucky Old Sun,' as a duet with Dave Matthews). But there's something about a man who was born during the Great Depression -- and who has waged his share of personal battles in the public eye -- singing "As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars / That I'm alive and well," and reminding us why he's still one of our favorites.

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3. 'I Could Not Ask for More,' Sara Evans

Giving Thanks: "These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive / These are the moments I'll remember all my life / I've found all I've waited for / And I could not ask for more."

This Diane Warren-penned tune first hit the airwaves in 2000, when Edwin McCain took it to the Top 5. But it was Sara's version that brought it to country fans, and we're thankful she did. She's probably grateful herself, since the 2001 single from 'Born to Fly' was released the same year the Missouri native scored four CMA Awards nominations, including one for Female Vocalist of the Year.

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2. 'It's a Great Day to Be Alive,' Travis Tritt

Giving Thanks: "And it's a great day to be alive / I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes / There's some hard times in the neighborhood / But why can't every day be just this good?"

Included on Travis' 'Down the Road I Go' album, this anthemic, high-on-life tune penned by Darrell Scott extolled the virtues of some very simple pleasures, from "rice cooking in the microwave" to taking his "Harley for a three-day cruise." A brand-new tattoo or some fancy facial hair? The possibilities are endless.

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1. 'Blessed,' Martina McBride

Giving Thanks: "At the end of every day /I have been blessed / With so much more than I deserve / To be here with the ones that love me / To love them so much it hurts / I have been blessed."

As the married mom of three daughters, it's a pretty safe bet Martina would consider this an accurate portrayal of her life. Focusing on the many gifts for which she's, from hearing the laughter of children to relaxing on the front-porch swing, the song really speaks to all of us, reminding us to pause and give thanks on a daily basis. The No. 1 tune (her fifth), earned a CMA nomination for Single of the Year and remains a staple at radio nearly ten years after its release. Blessed, indeed.

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