Reba McEntire tugs at the heartstrings with a live performance of her classic song, ‘The Greatest Man I Never Knew.’

The song was originally written by Richard Leigh and Layng Martine, Jr. and released in 1991.

The iconic lyrics were partially inspired by songwriter Richard Leigh’s relationship with his father. Told from the perspective of a now-grown child reflecting on her relationship with her father, the words tell the story of a sorrowful family relationship. The father in this song cared about his daughter but because of his busy schedule, he never truly let his feelings show. 

“The greatest man I never knew came home late every night
He never had too much to say too much was on his mind
I never really knew him. Oh, and now it seems so sad
Everything he gave to us, took all he had”

Reba McEntire has been a staple in the country music world for decades. With hits such as ‘Fancy’ and ‘I’m A Survivor,’ Reba has truly earned her name as the ‘Queen Of Country Music.’ Her classic songs and upbeat personality led to millions of fans all across the globe and there’s no sign of slowing down.

Today, she’s at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee for an emotional performance of her hit single, ‘The Greatest Man I Never Knew.’

And when she hits those last lines, I think almost everyone is tearing up.

“Oh, he was good at business
But there was business left to do
He never said he loved me
Guess he thought I knew”

What an incredible performance from this country music legend.