# Brandy Clark's 'American Roots' Song

> Brandy Clark's new song 'American Roots' reimagines Woody Guthrie's 'This Land Is Your Land' as a pro-immigrant anthem.
- Title: Brandy Clark's 'American Roots' Song · Variety | Shortify
- Summary: Brandy Clark's new song 'American Roots' reimagines Woody Guthrie's 'This Land Is Your Land' as a pro-immigrant anthem. Brandy Clark released 'American…
- Keywords: brandy clark, american roots, woody guthrie, this land is your land, pro-immigrant sentiment, country music, reprise records, shooter jennings, american songwriting, immigrant families, patriotism, musical arrangement
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/music/news/brandy-clark-american-roots-explains-patriotism-song-1236867013
- Author: Chris Willman
- Published: 2026-09-18T19:03:21+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: brandy clark, american roots, woody guthrie, this land is your land, pro-immigrant sentiment, country music, reprise records, shooter jennings, american songwriting, immigrant families, patriotism, musical arrangement
## Brandy Clark releases new song
Brandy Clark returns with her first new single in over three years, 'American Roots', after being named one of the 30 greatest living American songwriters by the New York Times.
## Song inspired by Woody Guthrie
Clark wrote 'American Roots' with Michael Pollack and Griff Clawson after watching the movie 'A Complete Unknown' about Bob Dylan, drawing from Woody Guthrie's 'This Land Is Your Land'.
## Patriotic but pro-immigrant
The song celebrates immigrants and non-nationalist patriotism, starting with 'Tell me about your family tree / If we start digging where’s it gonna lead' and ending with 'It’s no more mine than it is yours'.

> Tell me about your family tree / If we start digging where’s it gonna lead
## Label reaction to song
Clark's label manager Tom Corson noted the song's potential to be polarizing but emphasized its patriotic spirit, saying it's not polarizing but patriotic.
## Personal story influences song
Clark's guitar player was stopped by ICE without a driver's license, leading to a conversation about immigration and family trees in the song.
## Song's message on shared values
Clark believes the song highlights shared American values, emphasizing that immigrants and native-born share common dreams of love, safety, and opportunity.
## Tour response to song
During a tour with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Clark played 'American Roots' and saw audience clapping and standing up during the bridge, indicating its emotional impact.
## Album production changes
Clark recorded 'American Roots' early with studio musicians but switched to her touring band after realizing the live arrangement was more effective.
## Album release date
Clark's album 'The Bird', produced by Shooter Jennings, will be released on Reprise Records on January 15, 2027.
## Immigrant family tree message
Clark argues that nearly every American has immigrants in their family tree, challenging nationalist narratives about the country's origins.
## Label transition
Clark moved from Warner to Reprise Records after her Warner champion Jeff Sosnow became president of Reprise.
## Key takeaway

Brandy Clark released 'American Roots' as a pro-immigrant song inspired by Woody Guthrie, aiming to highlight shared American values.