"Country Strong" is the title of a song written by Jennifer Hanson

Jennifer Hanson

Jennifer Kathleen Hanson is an American country music artist, as well as a former Miss California. Married to songwriter Mark Nesler since 1997, Hanson began her own musical career in 2002 with a self-titled debut album being issued on Capitol Records...

, Tony Martin

Tony Martin (songwriter)

Tony Martin is a country music songwriter who has had twelve Number One hits as a songwriter. Among his compositions are "Third Rock from the Sun" by Joe Diffie and "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw....

 and Mark Nesler

Mark Nesler

Mark Nesler is an American country music artist. Signed to Elektra Records as a recording artist in 1998, Nesler charted three singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts...

. It was recorded by actress Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress and singer. She made her acting debut on stage in 1990 and started appearing in films in 1991. After appearing in several films throughout the decade, Paltrow gained early notice for her work in films such as Se7en and Emma...

 for the movie Country Strong in which she stars. Vince Gill

Vince Gill

Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...

 and Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin, born Patricia Jean Griffin, March 16, 1964, is an American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. She is especially known for her down-home crafting of songs and her connection to musicians including Emmylou Harris, Ellis Paul, and the Dixie Chicks, who have played with...

 also provide background vocals for the song. The song is included on the movie's soundtrack

Country Strong (soundtrack)

-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:*Byron Gallimore — tracks 1, 7, 12*James Stroud — track 2*Tony Brown — track 3*Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten — track 4*Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay — track 5*Ronnie Dunn — track 6*Michael Knox — track 8...

 that was released on October 26, 2010.

The song was released to country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 radio on August 23, 2010, and has reached the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs

Hot Country Songs

Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...

 chart. It has also been made into a music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

, featuring scenes from the film.

Critical reception

Kevin John Coyne, of Country Universe, gave the song a "B-" rating, stating that most country acts now are faking being country. Coyne also stated that "there's nothing substantively different about Paltrow's new single and all of the other "country and proud of it" songs that are out there. If it was recorded by any other new female singer that didn't have an established public persona, it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow." Matt Bjorke, of Roughstock, gave the song a "3 1/2-star" rating, stating the song was the "surprise of the week". Bjorke stated the song may be over-produced but showcased Paltrow's strong voice. While comparing it to "The Weary Kind

The Weary Kind

"The Weary Kind" is a country song written by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett for the film Crazy Heart, a 2009 film directed by Scott Cooper starring Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Colin Farrell and Bridges perform renditions of the song in the film...

", a song from the film Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart is a 2009 American musical-drama film, written and directed by Scott Cooper and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb. Jeff Bridges plays a down-and-out country music singer-songwriter who tries to turn his life around after beginning a relationship with a young...

, Bjorke said "Country Strong" isn't as compelling or engaging as "The Weary Kind", however, it does have a good chance to be a mainstream hit.

Music video

A music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 was filmed for the song. It features scenes from the film as well as a band performance. It was directed by Kristin Barlowe and Christopher Sims.

Chart performance

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Chart (2010-2011)	Peak position

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Result
2010	Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 2010 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 2010 The 14th Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards, honouring the best in film for 2010, were given by the Las Vegas Film Critics Society on 16 December 2010.-Top 10 Films:# The Social Network# Inception# Black Swan# 127 Hours...	Best Song
	Satellite Awards 2010 Satellite Awards 2010 The 2010 Satellite Awards, honoring the year's outstanding performers, films, television shows, DVDs, and interactive media, were presented by the International Press Academy at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 19, 2010...	Best Original Song Satellite Award for Best Original Song The Satellite Award for Best Original Song is an annual award given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :*1996: "You Must Love Me" performed by Madonna - Evita**"God Give Me Strength" - Grace of My Heart**"Kissing You" - Romeo + Juliet...