Be a Light
{{short description|2020 single by various artists}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Be a Light
| cover = Be_A_Light.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban
| album = 20 Number Ones
| released = {{Start date|2020|3|30}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country
| length = 2:50
| label = Valory
| writer = {{hlist|Thomas Rhett|Matt Dragstrem|Josh Miller|Josh Thompson}}
| producer = Dann Huff
| chronology = Thomas Rhett
| prev_title = Beer Can't Fix
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = What's Your Country Song
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Reba McEntire
| type = singles
| prev_title = Freedom
| prev_year = 2019
| title = Be a Light
| year = 2020
| next_title = Does He Love You
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Hillary Scott
| type = singles
| prev_title = Still
| prev_year = 2017
| title = Be a Light
| year = 2020
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Chris Tomlin
| type = singles
| prev_title = Christmas Day
| prev_year = 2019
| title = Be a Light
| year = 2020
| next_title = Who You Are to Me
| next_year = 2020
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Keith Urban
| type = singles
| prev_title = God Whispered Your Name
| prev_year = 2020
| title = Be a Light
| year = 2020
| next_title = Polaroid
| next_year = 2020
}}
}}
"Be a Light" is a song recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett and featuring guest vocals from Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban. It was released on March 30, 2020.
Rhett performed the song live at the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards alongside McEntire and Tomlin for the first time.{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=October 29, 2020 |title=The CMA Awards Promise to Bring Top Country Stars Together 'Safely, All in One Room' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9474772/2020-cma-awards-first-group-performers |magazine=Billboard}}
Content and history
Rhett said that he wrote the song in 2019, but chose to release it because he thought its message would be well received in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a31992854/thomas-rhett-new-song-coronavirus/ | title=Thomas Rhett Releases Uplifting Song 'Be a Light' to Aid Coronavirus Relief Efforts | publisher=Country Living | date=April 1, 2020 | access-date=May 5, 2020 | first=Tierney| last=McAfee}} He told Billboard that the song "was really just about being a light in a dark place; being an encouragement to people." He co-wrote the song with Matt Dragstrem, Josh Thompson, and Josh Miller.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/9359283/thomas-rhett-be-a-light-lyrics-reba-mcentire-hillary-scott-chris-tomlin-keith-urban | title=Here Are the Lyrics to Thomas Rhett's 'Be a Light,' Feat. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban | magazine=Billboard | date=April 15, 2020 | access-date=May 5, 2020 | first=Heran| last=Mamo}} The song was sent to country radio on March 30, 2020. On April 5, 2020, he performed it on ACM Presents: Our Country, a television special put on by the Academy of Country Music.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/9351578/thomas-rhett-be-a-light-acm-presents-our-country | title=Thomas Rhett Brings New Song 'Be a Light' to 'ACM Presents: Our Country' | magazine=Billboard | date=April 5, 2020 | access-date=May 5, 2020 | first=Anna| last=Chan}} Rhett also announced that proceeds from the song will be donated to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Personnel
Credits by AllMusic{{cite web |title=Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/be-a-light-mw0003372279/credits |website=AllMusic |accessdate=February 1, 2023}}
- David Angell – violin
- Monisa Angell – viola
- Jenny Bufano – violin
- Zeneba Bowers – violin
- Janet Darnall – violin
- David Davidson – violin
- Matt Dragstrem – programming
- Conni Ellisor – violin
- Alicia Engstrom – violin
- Dann Huff – electric guitar, piano, programming
- Charlie Judge – keyboards, piano
- Chris Kimmerer – drums
- Anthony LaMarchina – cello
- Betsy Lamb – viola
- Tony Lucido – bass guitar
- Reba McEntire – featured vocals
- Carole Rabinowitz-Nueun – cello
- Justin Niebank – programming
- Sari Reist – cello
- Thomas Rhett – lead vocals
- Hillary Scott – featured vocals
- Chris Tomlin – featured vocals
- Ilya Toshinsky – acoustic guitar
- Keith Urban – electric guitar, featured vocals
- Mary Kathryn Van Osdale – violin
- Derek Wells – electric guitar
- Kris Wilkinson – viola, string arrangements
Chart performance
Be a Light entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 71 on the chart dated for the week ending April 18, 2020. In doing so, it became the first entries on that chart for both Scott and Tomlin (though the former has charted repeatedly with Lady A). It is also McEntire's first top-10 hit since "Turn On the Radio" peaked at No. 1 in January 2011, and her most recent top-10 hit to date. With a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, it became Rhett's first single to miss the top spot since "Vacation" peaked at number 30 in 2016.
Charts
{{col-start|width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! Chart (2020) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|74|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|3|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|42|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|2|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|7|artist=Thomas Rhett|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2020}} |
| scope="row"| US Rolling Stone Top 100{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-16-03/|title=Top 100 Songs, September 4, 2020 - September 10, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=February 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219212841/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-16-03/|url-status=dead}}
| 91 |
|---|
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Country Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/country-airplay-songs|title=Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2020}}
| 31 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2020}}
| 24 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Thomas Rhett|title=Be a Light|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2023|accessdate=June 8, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Thomas Rhett}}
{{Lady Antebellum}}
{{Reba McEntire singles}}
{{Chris Tomlin}}
{{Keith Urban singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Thomas Rhett
Category:Songs written by Matt Dragstrem
Category:Songs written by Josh Thompson (singer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Dann Huff
Category:Big Machine Records singles