Bluegrass Meets American Spirit

The Kody Norris Show is bringing a classic American folk anthem into a new season of patriotic celebration.

The award-winning country and bluegrass group has released its latest single, “The Power and Glory,” available Friday, May 22, through Rebel Records. The song is the newest preview of the band’s upcoming album, Spirit of America, set for release on Friday, June 26.

A Folk Classic Reimagined

Originally written by Phil Ochs in the mid-1960s, “The Power and Glory” has long carried the feeling of an American anthem — one that celebrates the country’s natural beauty while also reflecting on freedom, responsibility, and unity.

The Kody Norris Show takes that foundation and gives it a fresh bluegrass arrangement. Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris leads the vocal before moving into harmony on the chorus, while Kody Norris arranged the song for the full band.

The result is a track that feels both familiar and new, honoring the song’s folk roots while placing it firmly inside the band’s lively, high-energy “showgrass” sound.

A Song for America’s 250th

The single is part of the band’s forthcoming Spirit of America album, a project designed to mark the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary.

“When the idea of an America250 celebration album came about, we had a pretty good idea what most of the material would be,” Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris said. “However, we still wanted to look at outside songs that may have slipped by us throughout the years.”

She said “The Power and Glory” stood out as one of those songs, especially because of its history and message.

“When we sat down to rehearse for this album, I envisioned this song in a little different format with me singing lead and then hopping to the harmony line on the chorus,” she said. “Kody put the arrangement to it and bam — we had us another song for the album!”

Pride, Reflection and Bluegrass Energy

The band’s new album appears to be built around themes of home, faith, service, heritage, unity, and the enduring promise of the American story.

Its previous single, “Good Ol’ USA,” captured a more upbeat expression of national pride, complete with the band’s unmistakable style and energy. “The Power and Glory” brings a more reflective tone, celebrating America’s landscapes — from mountains and meadows to rivers and coastlines — while reminding listeners that the country’s strength is found in freedom and the people who stand together.

Recorded by Wes Easter at Eastwood Studios in Cana, Virginia, and mixed and mastered by Van Atkins at The Shop Studio in Candler, North Carolina, the track features Kody Norris on guitar and lead vocals, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris on mandolin, lead vocal and harmony vocal, Charlie Lowman on bass, Hayden “Jim” Hensley on banjo and harmony vocals, Gregg Lohman on percussion, and Jason Barie on fiddle.

Taking the Spirit of America on the Road

The release also comes as The Kody Norris Show continues its 2026 Spirit of America tour, with more than 60 shows scheduled across 20 states.

Stops include festivals and venues in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Maryland, and more. The group is also set to make its first-ever appearance at RockyGrass in Lyons, Colorado, joining a lineup that includes Punch Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Tim O’Brien, Steep Canyon Rangers, and others.

For a band known for rhinestones, humor, showmanship, and traditional musicianship, Spirit of America arrives as both a celebration and a reminder. Through “The Power and Glory,” The Kody Norris Show is not just covering a song from the past — it is carrying its message forward.