Be a Light

2020 single by various artists

"Be a Light"

Single by Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban

from the album 20 Number Ones

Released

March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)

Genre

Country

Length

2:50

Label

Valory

Songwriter(s)

Thomas Rhett
Matt Dragstrem
Josh Miller
Josh Thompson

Producer(s)

Dann Huff

Thomas Rhett singles chronology

"Beer Can't Fix"
(2020)

"Be a Light"
(2020)

"What's Your Country Song"
(2020)

Reba McEntire singles chronology

"Freedom"
(2019)

"Be a Light"
(2020)

"Does He Love You"
(2021)

Hillary Scott singles chronology

"Still"
(2017)

"Be a Light"
(2020)

Chris Tomlin singles chronology

"Christmas Day"
(2019)

"Be a Light"
(2020)

"Who You Are to Me"
(2020)

Keith Urban singles chronology

"God Whispered Your Name"
(2020)

"Be a Light"
(2020)

"Polaroid"
(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. and serves as a single from 20 Number Ones.

Rhett performed the song live at the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards alongside McEntire and Tomlin for the first time.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] Rhett also announced that proceeds from the song will be donated to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.^[2]

Personnel

Credits by AllMusic^[5]

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).^[3] 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

Weekly charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[6]	74
Canada Country (Billboard)^[7]	3
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	42
US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[9]	2
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[10]	7
US Rolling Stone Top 100^[11]	91

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)	Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[12]	31
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[13]	24

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[14]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Grein, Paul (October 29, 2020). "The CMA Awards Promise to Bring Top Country Stars Together 'Safely, All in One Room'". Billboard.
^ ^a ^b McAfee, Tierney (April 1, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Releases Uplifting Song 'Be a Light' to Aid Coronavirus Relief Efforts". Country Living. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Mamo, Heran (April 15, 2020). "Here Are the Lyrics to Thomas Rhett's 'Be a Light,' Feat. Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ Chan, Anna (April 5, 2020). "Thomas Rhett Brings New Song 'Be a Light' to 'ACM Presents: Our Country'". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ "Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Thomas Rhett Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^ "Top 100 Songs, September 4, 2020 - September 10, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
^ "American single certifications – Thomas Rhett – Be a Light". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 8, 2023.

Thomas Rhett

Discography

Studio albums

It Goes Like This (2013)
Tangled Up (2015)
Life Changes (2017)
Center Point Road (2019)
Country Again: Side A (2021)
Where We Started (2022)

EPs

Thomas Rhett (2012)

Singles

"Something to Do with My Hands"
"Beer with Jesus"
"It Goes Like This"
"Get Me Some of That"
"Make Me Wanna"
"Crash and Burn"
"Die a Happy Man"
"T-Shirt"
"Vacation"
"Star of the Show"
"Craving You"
"Unforgettable"
"Marry Me"
"Life Changes"
"Sixteen"
"Look What God Gave Her"
"Remember You Young"
"Beer Can't Fix"
"Be a Light"
"What's Your Country Song"
"Country Again"
"Slow Down Summer"
"Half of Me"
"Angels (Don't Always Have Wings)"
"Talking to Jesus"
"Mamaw's House"

Featured singles

"Small Town Throwdown"
"Goodbye Summer"
"God Who Listens"
"Thank You Lord"
"Praise the Lord"

Promotional singles

"Leave Right Now"
"Death Row"

Written singles

Tours

Rhett Akins

v t e Lady A
Hillary Scott Charles Kelley Dave Haywood
Studio albums	Lady Antebellum Need You Now Own the Night On This Winter's Night Golden 747 Heart Break Ocean What a Song Can Do
EPs	iTunes Session A Merry Little Christmas What a Song Can Do (Chapter One)
Singles	"Love Don't Live Here" "Lookin' for a Good Time" "I Run to You" "Need You Now" "American Honey" "Our Kind of Love" "Hello World" "Just a Kiss" "We Owned the Night" "Dancin' Away with My Heart" "Wanted You More" "Downtown" "Goodbye Town" "Compass" "Bartender" "Freestyle" "Long Stretch of Love" "You Look Good" "Heart Break" "What If I Never Get Over You" "Champagne Night" "Like a Lady"
Featured singles	"Never Alone" "Something Better" "Who You Are to Me" "Forever Country"
Other songs	"Baby, It's Cold Outside" "Friday Night" "Golden" "A Holly Jolly Christmas" "Slow Rollin'"
Concert tours & residencies	Need You Now Tour (2010) Own the Night Tour (2011–12) Take Me Downtown Tour (2014) Wheels Up Tour (2015) You Look Good World Tour (2017) Summer Plays On Tour (2018) Our Kind of Vegas (2019)
Solo releases	Love Remains The Driver Thy Will Be a Light
Related articles	Discography Awards and nominations

v t e Reba McEntire singles
Albums Singles Videos
1970s	"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" (with Jacky Ward) "Sweet Dreams"
1980s	"(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" "I Can See Forever in Your Eyes" "I Don't Think Love Ought to Be That Way" "Today All Over Again" "Only You (And You Alone)" "I'm Not That Lonely Yet" "Can't Even Get the Blues" "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" "Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can't Have)" "There Ain't No Future in This" "Just a Little Love" "He Broke Your Memory Last Night" "How Blue" "Somebody Should Leave" "Have I Got a Deal for You" "Only in My Mind" "Whoever's in New England" "Little Rock" "What Am I Gonna Do About You" "Let the Music Lift You Up" "One Promise Too Late" "The Last One to Know" "Love Will Find Its Way to You" "A Sunday Kind of Love" "I Know How He Feels" "New Fool at an Old Game" "Cathy's Clown" "'Til Love Comes Again" "Little Girl"
1990s	"Walk On" "You Lie" "Rumor Has It" "Fancy" "Fallin' Out of Love" "For My Broken Heart" "Is There Life Out There" "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" "Take It Back" "The Heart Won't Lie" (with Vince Gill) "It's Your Call" "Does He Love You" (with Linda Davis) "They Asked About You" "Why Haven't I Heard from You" "She Thinks His Name Was John" "Till You Love Me" "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" "And Still" "On My Own" "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" "Starting Over Again" "You Keep Me Hangin' On" "The Fear of Being Alone" "How Was I to Know" "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" "What If It's You" "If You See Him/If You See Her" (with Brooks & Dunn) "Forever Love" "Wrong Night" "One Honest Heart" "What Do You Say"
2000s	"I'll Be" "We're So Good Together" "I'm a Survivor" "Sweet Music Man" "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain" "Somebody" "He Gets That from Me" "My Sister" "You're Gonna Be (Always Loved by Me)" "Love Needs a Holiday" "Because of You" (with Kelly Clarkson) "The Only Promise That Remains" (with Justin Timberlake) "Every Other Weekend" (with Kenny Chesney or Skip Ewing) "Strange" "Consider Me Gone"
2010s	"I Keep On Loving You" "Turn On the Radio" "If I Were a Boy" "When Love Gets a Hold of You" "Somebody's Chelsea" "Going Out Like That" "Until They Don't Love You" "Just Like Them Horses" "Softly and Tenderly" "Back to God" "God and My Girlfriends" "Freedom"
2020s	"Does He Love You" (with Dolly Parton)
Other singles	"Mind Your Own Business" (with Hank Williams Jr.) "Oklahoma Swing" (with Vince Gill) "Cowgirls Don't Cry" (with Brooks & Dunn) "Forever Country" (with Various artists) "Be a Light" (with Thomas Rhett) "What If"

v t e Chris Tomlin
Studio albums	The Noise We Make Not to Us Arriving See the Morning Hello Love And If Our God Is for Us... Burning Lights Love Ran Red Never Lose Sight Holy Roar Chris Tomlin & Friends Always
Live albums	Live from Austin Music Hall Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Singles	"Holy Is the Lord" "How Great Is Our God" "Made to Worship" "Our God" "I Lift My Hands" "Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]" "Good Good Father" "Resurrection Power" "Be a Light" "Who You Are to Me" "God Who Listens" "I See You" "Thank You Lord" "Always" "Holy Forever"
Related articles	Discography

v t e Keith Urban singles
Discography
Keith Urban	"It's a Love Thing" "Your Everything" "But for the Grace of God" "Where the Blacktop Ends"
Golden Road	"Somebody Like You" "Raining on Sunday" "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me" "You'll Think of Me"
Be Here	"Days Go By" "You're My Better Half" "Making Memories of Us" "Better Life" "Tonight I Wanna Cry"
Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing	"Once in a Lifetime" "Stupid Boy" "I Told You So" "Everybody"
Greatest Hits: 19 Kids	"You Look Good in My Shirt"
Defying Gravity	"Sweet Thing" "Kiss a Girl" "Only You Can Love Me This Way" "'Til Summer Comes Around" "I'm In"
Get Closer	"Put You in a Song" "Without You" "Long Hot Summer" "You Gonna Fly"
Fuse	"Little Bit of Everything" "Shame" "We Were Us" "Cop Car" "Somewhere in My Car" "Raise 'Em Up"
Ripcord	"John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16" "Break on Me" "Wasted Time" "Blue Ain't Your Color" "The Fighter"
Graffiti U	"Female" "Parallel Line" "Coming Home" "Never Comin Down"
The Speed of Now Part 1	"We Were" "God Whispered Your Name" "Polaroid" "Superman" "Change Your Mind" "One Too Many"
TBA	"Wild Hearts" "Nightfalls" "Brown Eyes Baby" "Street Called Main" "Straight Line" "Messed Up as Me"
Collaborative songs	"America the Beautiful" "The Twelfth of Never" "Funky Tonight" "In God's Hands" "Start a Band" "Lean on Me" "Highway Don't Care" "Be a Light" "Forever Country" "Love Songs Ain't for Us" "Throw It Back" "That's When"
Other songs	"Arms of Mary" "For You"