The song is performed by will.i.am, Seal, Bono, Mary J. Blige, and Faith Hill, with David Foster appearing on piano.

The song's live debut, at the Kennedy Center, was broadcast live on a special edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired on January 19, 2009, in honor of the next day's inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

I wanted to write the new American anthem for this day and age—for this generation.

Foster recorded Hill's vocals on January 15 in Tennessee, will.i.am recorded Bono's portion on January 17, and Blige contributed her vocals on January 18, right after performing at Obama's pre-inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

Seal travelled to D.C. from Cannes to record his part on January 17–18.