"Angels Among Us" is a song written by Don Goodman and

Becky Hobbs Becky Hobbs (born Rebecca A. Hobbs, January 24, 1950) is an American country singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has recorded several studio albums and has charted multiple singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including the 198 ...

and recorded by the American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

band

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. The song was released in December 1993 as a Christmas single from the band's 1993 album '' Cheap Seats''. It charted twice on the

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...

charts. The song features backing vocals from the Sanctuary Choir and Young Musicians Choir of the First Baptist Church of

Fort Payne, Alabama Fort Payne is a city in and county seat of DeKalb County, in northeastern Alabama, United States. It is near Lookout Mountain. At the 2020 census, the population was 14,877. This city developed around a fort of the same name, built in the 183 ...

. Hobbs also recorded the song on her album ''The Boots I Came to Town In''. Alabama lead singer

Randy Owen Randy Yeuell Owen (born December 13, 1949) is an American country musician. He is best known for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band that saw commercial success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Alabama became the most su ...

has said that the band received "hundreds of letters from all over the world saying that the song was a blessing." Owen performed the song at the funeral of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in 2001, with whom he shared a personal friendship. A live recording of the song is included on ''Angels Among Us: Hymns and Gospel Favorites'', released in 2014.

Background and composition

According to songwriter

, she experienced a two premonitions in the winter of 1985–1986 that she might not experience her next birthday. Soon after, Hobbs and her bandmates narrowly missed being hit by an 18-wheel semi truck that ran a green light while on the ride home from a live show. Hobbs was convinced that divine intervention spared her life and those of her bandmates and drew from the event to begin writing a new song. After a few years working on "Angels Among Us," she recruited songwriter Don Goodman to help her finish the song.

Critical reception

Tom Roland of ''New Country'' magazine wrote that "even when the members of the band get schmaltzy with the kiddie chorus ��hey stop short of going overboard."

Cover versions

The song's co-writer, Becky Hobbs, included the song on her 1994 album ''The Boots I Came to Town In''. On December 24, 2012, singer and actress

Demi Lovato Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato ( ; born August 20, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. After appearing on the children's television series ''Barney & Friends'' (2002–2004), she starred in the Disney Channel short series ...

released a cover of the song to support the victims of the

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting On December 14, 2012, a mass shooting occurred at Newtown Public Schools, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, United States. The perpetrator, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, shot and killed 26 people. The victims were 20 children bet ...

. On December 5, 2017, country singers

Scotty McCreery Scott Cooke McCreery (born October 9, 1993) is an American country singer. He rose to fame after winning the tenth season of ''American Idol'' in May 2011. His debut studio album, '' Clear as Day'', was released in October 2011 and was certifi ...

Carly Pearce Carly Pearce (born Carly Cristyne Slusser; April 24, 1990) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her material contains elements of both traditional and contemporary country-pop music. Pearce began performing professionally in her ...

Sara Evans Sara Lynn Evans (; born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboar ...

Lucy Hale Karen Lucille Hale (born June 14, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including seven Teen Choice Awards (the most for any actress in a single series), a Gracie Awards, Gracie Award, a People's Choice Aw ...

, Tegan Marie,

RaeLynn Racheal Lynn Woodward (born May 4, 1994), better known as RaeLynn, is an American singer and songwriter who was a contestant on ''The Voice (U.S.), The Voice'' in The Voice (U.S. season 2), season two (2012). She was eliminated in the quarterf ...

, Jillian Jacqueline, Brennley Brown, CB30 and Temecula Road, all performed the cover to support the

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research hospital headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, it is a 501(c)(3) designated nonprofit medical corporation which focuses on chi ...

Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Dawn Chenoweth (; born Kristi Dawn Chenoweth; July 24, 1968)Kristin Cheno ...

sang the song with

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

in a 2018 Christmas concert. Chris Rupp released a version on his 2018 A New Day: A Cappella, Vol II featuring Tim Foust from Home Free

Chart performance

"Angels Among Us" debuted on the

charts dated for the week ending December 25, 1993. The song spent six weeks on the charts and peaked at number 51 in January 1994. On the chart dated for the week ending December 31, 1994, it re-entered and went on to peak at number 28 in January 1995. Despite being charted during the holiday season, it remains one of the group's best-known songs, due to its inspirational content as well as its inclusion at funerals and in tribute videos.

Certifications

References

{{authority control 1993 singles Alabama (American band) songs American Christmas songs Music videos directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions Songs written by Becky Hobbs Songs written by Don Goodman (songwriter) RCA Records singles 1993 songs