The leading male character in Oklahoma!, Curly McLain, sings the song at the beginning of the first scene of the musical.
Curly's "brimming optimism is perfectly captured by Rodgers' ebullient music and Hammerstein's buoyant pastoral lyrics.
It has become one of their most famous numbers and "quickly became one of the most popular American songs to emerge from the wartime era, gaining currency away from Broadway first on the radio and recordings, and then later on numerous television variety shows.
[13] Classical singers who have recorded it include Placido Domingo, Bryn Terfel, Marilyn Horne and Samuel Ramey, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir made a choral version.
[14] The song "Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom ends with an a capella segment of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'".