William Kenneth Alphin, otherwise known as Big Kenny, one-half of country rock duo Big & Rich, wrote "Last Dollar" after a disastrous night of gambling in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve in 2002.

Alphin had $200 to his name and $140,000 in credit card debt, and in hopes of increasing his cash on hand, he went to the blackjack tables.

"That night as I looked down at the sole breaking off of my shoe it hit me like a ton of bricks," Alphin said.

Its lyrics take the point of view of a man who is "down to [his] last dollar", but still in a positive mood ("One, two, three, like a bird I sing / 'Cause you've given me the most beautiful set of wings").

McGraw's daughters, Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey, sing on the song's final chorus.

When Alphin heard McGraw's final version, with the children joining in at the end, "I nearly lost it," he said.

"[1] Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a B rating.