The Real Meaning Behind Tim McGraw And Tyler Hubbard's 'Undivided'

On Jan. 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America. Shortly afterward, he addressed the nation in an inaugural speech that called for unity. "This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge," the newly minted president stated, according to NPR. "Unity is the path forward." 

The unifying theme is not a new one, and nor is Biden's pledge to be a president for all Americans. Capping off this theme is a prime-time TV special called "Celebrating America." According to Biden's inaugural website, the capstone program "celebrates the beginning of a new national journey toward an America united" and features a slew of special performances from celebrities like Demi Lovato, Bon Jovi, John Legend, Tim McGraw, and Tyler Hubbard. 

People reported that McGraw and Hubbard are slated to take the stage to perform Hubbard's latest single, "Undivided." As viewers may glean from the song's title, it parallels Biden's ever-important call for unity, but there's a deeper message, too. So what is the real meaning behind the song? Let's take a look.

Like millions of other Americans, country star Tyler Hubbard contracted COVID-19 in November 2020. However, there is a silver lining to this cloud! Not only did Hubbard make a full recovery, but the experience of quarantining on his tour bus while the pandemic and 2020 presidential election raged around him proved to be a powerful inspiration. "It felt like a message I wanted to say and felt like it needed to be heard, not only by the fans but even by myself," Hubbard shared with People.

Thus, with the inception of "Undivided," a hit was born. Well, almost — it just required another set of pipes to bring it to life. Hubbard wasted no time enlisting his buddy, fellow country powerhouse Tim McGraw, to duet with him. McGraw, whom Hubbard described as "a great guy with a great heart," jumped at the opportunity. But even he couldn't predict how the song would grow in relevance in the wake of the Capitol storming on Jan. 6, 2021. "It was so sad and so profound and something that I never thought I would see in this country," McGraw revealed to People, speaking about the events of the fateful day. "But the song, it speaks to more of the social contract that we have with each other. It's not about politics, it's about how we're supposed to treat each other." 

Yep, this sounds like a message many can hold onto long after Inauguration Day has passed.