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If You're Reading This

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38: 323:) and radio stations to "address the fact that we don't have a studio recorded version of this song". A remixed version (with most of the audience noise removed, except for applause at the end) was released to radio in June 2007, while McGraw's then-current single "I Need You" (a Faith Hill duet) was also climbing the charts. This remix was added to later presses of his then current album 289:"If You're Reading This" is a tribute to the families of soldiers who have died. Its lyrics take the form of a letter written from a soldier to his family — a letter that is intended to be sent only if the soldier dies ("If you're reading this / I'm already home"). 299:
When McGraw performed the song at the ACM telecast, one hundred relatives of soldiers joined him onstage, under a banner that read "Families of Fallen Heroes". After performing the song, he received a standing ovation.
332:"If You're Reading This" is the second song in McGraw's career that has charted due to a live performance. In 2001, "unknown fans" taped McGraw's performance of the song "Things Change" during the 308:
Despite the lack of a studio recording, the song received airplay on country radio after several stations began playing the CBS telecast of McGraw's live performance. As a result, it entered
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charts from unsolicited airplay. A remixed version of the live recording was later released to radio as a single, overlapping McGraw's then-current single, "
1401: 692: 258: 191: 543: 1193: 1458: 17: 911: 500: 663: 634: 745: 248:. Shortly after McGraw's live performance, several radio stations began playing a telecast of the song, boosting it to a debut at No. 35 on the 1136: 774: 491: 1751: 1567: 1162: 1798: 1761: 1255: 1646: 1484: 1029: 1086: 296:, approximately three weeks before the ACM awards aired. The three were inspired by reading a magazine article on war casualties. 272:
country charts in October 2007, becoming McGraw's forty-second Top Ten country hit overall. The song also peaked at No. 41 on the
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chart at number 35. Scott Siman, McGraw's manager, had been working with both the label (
1329: 1043: 410: 45: 340:; as a result, several stations downloaded and played the live telecast of that song. 1777: 1725: 1617: 1581: 1343: 1286: 1015: 575: 229: 89: 16:
This article is about the song from the Tim McGraw album. For the Drake mixtape, see
320: 117: 112: 1711: 1272: 1265: 84: 664:"CMT.com : News : ACM Exposure Fails to Bolster Superstars' CD Sales" 1560: 959: 262: 233: 178: 125: 49: 1732: 1322: 329:, and Curb began promoting the song as a single in place of "I Need You". 1739: 908:"American single certifications – Tim McGraw – If You're Reading This" 399: 337: 775:"CMT.com: Tim McGraw: "Things Change" — But the Questions Keep Coming" 928: 292:
McGraw co-wrote the song, with Brad and Brett Warren of country duo
722:"Tim McGraw officially releases "If You're Reading This" to radio" 932: 245: 746:"Tim McGraw's "If You're Reading This" Officially Released" 268:"If You're Reading This" eventually peaked at No. 3 on the 693:"Tim McGraw's "If You're Reading This" Is In High Demand" 516:
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
635:"News: Headlines: Tim McGraw Song Remains TV Moment" 1749: 1699: 1670: 1634: 1591: 1548: 1526: 1504: 1482: 1446: 1382: 1353: 1303: 1253: 1210: 1160: 1103: 1053: 1003: 976: 177: 151: 123: 111: 95: 83: 73: 65: 55: 44: 30: 544:"News: Headlines: Tim McGraw's Special Tribute" 803:"Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot Country Songs)" 944: 857:"Tim McGraw Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" 8: 603:"Tim McGraw Relives Emotional Debut At ACMs" 1809:Song recordings produced by Byron Gallimore 839:"Tim McGraw Chart History (Canada Country)" 951: 937: 929: 479: 444: 347: 36: 27: 912:Recording Industry Association of America 576:"Tim McGraw Gets Emotional And Political" 1459:It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You 530: 512: 54: 43: 1814:Song recordings produced by Tim McGraw 629: 627: 597: 595: 538: 536: 534: 236:. The song was first performed at the 570: 568: 7: 1804:Songs written by the Warren Brothers 1256:Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors 821:"Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot 100)" 336:awards, and posted the recording to 19:If You're Reading This It's Too Late 228:" is a song performed by American 14: 1087:She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart 1094:Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It 1625:Diamond Rings and Old Barstools 1356:Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 987:"What Room Was the Holiday In" 238:Academy of Country Music (ACM) 1: 876:"Best of 2007: Country Songs" 77:May 15, 2007 (live recording) 468: 403: 353: 1799:Songs written by Tim McGraw 1337:Do You Want Fries with That 1144:Where the Green Grass Grows 240:awards, which were held in 79:June 2007 (remixed version) 1840: 350: 244:and aired May 15, 2007 on 15: 967: 513: 498: 490: 487: 484: 450: 447: 185: 35: 25:2007 single by Tim McGraw 1611:Meanwhile Back at Mama's 1539:Better Than I Used to Be 1316:Live Like You Were Dying 1306:Live Like You Were Dying 1194:Some Things Never Change 31:"If You're Reading This" 886:Prometheus Global Media 1409:If You're Reading This 1395:Last Dollar (Fly Away) 1366:When the Stars Go Blue 1294:Watch the Wind Blow By 639:Great American Country 548:Great American Country 226:If You're Reading This 201:If You're Reading This 1604:Lookin' for That Girl 1280:She's My Kind of Rain 1130:Just to See You Smile 1037:Not a Moment Too Soon 1006:Not a Moment Too Soon 990:"Welcome to the Club" 726:Country Standard Time 674:on September 30, 2007 1819:Curb Records singles 1690:The Rest of Our Life 1673:The Rest of Our Life 1551:Two Lanes of Freedom 1495:Felt Good on My Lips 1213:Set This Circus Down 1201:My Next Thirty Years 1080:All I Want Is a Life 1073:Can't Be Really Gone 1066:I Like It, I Love It 261:", a duet with wife 1594:Sundown Heaven Town 1568:One of Those Nights 1223:Grown Men Don't Cry 1180:Something Like That 1023:Don't Take the Girl 996:"Two Steppin' Mind" 970:Singles discography 481: 294:The Warren Brothers 1762:Standing Room Only 1752:Standing Room Only 1661:How I'll Always Be 1637:Damn Country Music 1575:Highway Don't Care 1437:Nothin' to Die For 1230:Angry All the Time 1173:Please Remember Me 1163:A Place in the Sun 1151:For a Little While 480: 181:singles chronology 1771: 1770: 1719:Thought About You 1529:Emotional Traffic 1137:One of These Days 580:All Headline News 522: 521: 517: 473: 472: 438: 437: 363:Hot Country Songs 317:Hot Country Songs 304:Chart performance 255:Hot Country Songs 242:Las Vegas, Nevada 222: 221: 218: 217: 1831: 1794:Tim McGraw songs 1647:Top of the World 1517:Me and Tennessee 1237:The Cowboy in Me 1030:Down on the Farm 953: 946: 939: 930: 923: 922: 920: 918: 904: 898: 897: 895: 893: 872: 866: 854: 848: 836: 830: 818: 812: 800: 794: 793: 791: 790: 785:on July 10, 2007 781:. 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1287:Real Good Man 1284: 1281: 1277: 1274: 1270: 1267: 1263: 1262: 1260: 1258: 1257: 1252: 1245: 1241: 1238: 1234: 1231: 1227: 1224: 1220: 1219: 1217: 1215: 1214: 1209: 1202: 1198: 1195: 1191: 1188: 1184: 1181: 1177: 1174: 1170: 1169: 1167: 1165: 1164: 1159: 1152: 1148: 1145: 1141: 1138: 1134: 1131: 1127: 1124: 1120: 1117: 1113: 1112: 1110: 1108: 1107: 1102: 1095: 1091: 1088: 1084: 1081: 1077: 1074: 1070: 1067: 1063: 1062: 1060: 1058: 1057: 1052: 1045: 1041: 1038: 1034: 1031: 1027: 1024: 1020: 1017: 1016:Indian Outlaw 1013: 1012: 1010: 1008: 1007: 1002: 995: 993:"Memory Lane" 992: 989: 986: 985: 983: 981: 980: 975: 971: 966: 961: 954: 949: 947: 942: 940: 935: 934: 931: 913: 909: 903: 900: 887: 883: 882: 877: 871: 868: 864: 863: 858: 853: 850: 846: 845: 840: 835: 832: 828: 827: 822: 817: 814: 810: 809: 804: 799: 796: 784: 780: 776: 770: 767: 755: 751: 747: 741: 738: 727: 723: 717: 714: 703:on 2014-12-18 702: 698: 694: 688: 685: 673: 669: 665: 659: 656: 645:on 2013-01-23 644: 640: 636: 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Index

If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Single
Tim McGraw
Let It Go
Genre
Country
Label
Curb
Songwriter(s)
Brad Warren
Brett Warren
Producer(s)
Byron Gallimore
Tim McGraw
I Need You
Suspicions
country music
Tim McGraw
Academy of Country Music (ACM)
Las Vegas, Nevada
CBS
Billboard
Hot Country Songs
I Need You
Faith Hill
Billboard Hot 100
The Warren Brothers
Billboard
Hot Country Songs

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