“Bless the Broken Road” is the title a song that has been recorded by several American country music artists to date. It was co-written by Marcus Hummon and members of the country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994, and recorded by Hummon a year later. Since then, Melodie Crittenden, Sons of the Desert, Geoff Moore, Selah, and Rascal Flatts have all recorded the song as well; Rascal Flatts’ version was a Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts in 2005, and the songwriters earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Song. Co-written by Marcus Hummon, Jeff Hanna, and Bobby Boyd, “Bless the Broken Road” was originally recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1994 album Acoustic. One year later, Hummon also recorded the song for his debut album All in Good Time.

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The first version to be released as a single was released in 1998 by Melodie Crittenden under the title “Broken Road”. This version was a #42 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. The same year, country band Sons of the Desert recorded their own version of the song, for a planned second album for Epic Records. This album, however, was not released, due to a dispute between the band and their label. One year later, Geoff Moore recorded the song as well.

The highest-charting rendition was by the country music group Rascal Flatts, who cut the song for their Feels Like Today album. Released in 2005, their version spent five weeks at Number One on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts; it also earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

That same year, Crittenden recorded the song a second time, as a member of the Christian group Selah; this version was a Top Five hit on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs charts.

On May 25, 2005, during a live performance on American Idol by Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, an additional version was recorded. While not in wide release, and never released on an album, the version received enough radio airplay to enter the country music charts at #50.

The song was also sung by Julienne Irwin in the second round of America’s Got Talent (Season 2). Irwin later went on to place fourth in the competition.

BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
by Marcus Hummon, Jeff Hanna, and Bobby Boyd
performed by Rascal Flatts

Intro: C F G C (2x)

Verse:
C                          F    G      C
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
C                              F        G      C
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
Am            F
But I got lost a time or two
G                      C
Wiped my brow and kept pushin’ through
C                              F         G         C
I couldn’t see how every sign pointed straight to you

Chorus:
F          C               G       C
That every long lost dream led me to where you are
F        C                    F         G
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
F      C             G     C
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
Am
This much I know is true..
C                                F        G         C
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you

(Repeat Intro)

Verse:
I think about the years I’ve spent just passin’ through
I’d like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You’ve been there, you understand
Its all part of a grander plan that is comin’ true

CHORUS

Solo: (Not sure about the chords here; I just play the Intro again)

Chorus 2:
F       C            G      C
And now I’m just rolling home into my lover’s arms
Am
This much I know is true..
C                                F        G         C  F G C
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you
C                                F        G         C  F  G  C
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you oooooooo
C        F  G    C (let ring)
Oooooooo ooooooo ooo