A Joyful Anthem: Travis Tritt’s ‘It’s a Great Day to Be Alive’

One of country music’s happiest tunes delivers a timeless message on the importance of celebrating life.

Musician Travis Tritt performs onstage at Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival, in 2017. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Songwriter Darrell Scott will always remember his source of inspiration for one of country music’s most cheerful hits, “It’s a Great Day to be Alive.” Despite the song’s sunny tone, the Nashville artist wrote it after suffering from a week-long back injury that left him unable to complete simple tasks on his own. In 2023, he chatted with music publication The Bluegrass Situation about the single’s unique origin.

“After 6 or 7 days when I could [finally] sit up, I was literally just heating rice in a microwave—and considering making soup. Just sitting at the table, which I hadn’t done all week. It was the most blessed thing to do such simple things. And that’s where the song came from.”

Scott released “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” on his own album, “Aloha from Nashville,” in 1997. When country star Travis Tritt included it on his seventh studio album, “Down the Road I Go,” country music fans fell in love with his soulful interpretation.

A Timeless Message

Compact Disc pamphlet for Travis Tritt's 2000 album "Down the Road I Go," featuring his rendition of Darrell Scott's song, "It's A Great Day to Be Alive." Internet Archive. Public Domain

Tritt’s rendition of the optimistic tune was released in 2000, and it quickly became a country classic thanks to its inspiring message that encouraged listeners to appreciate and celebrate the sheer fact of being alive. It climbed all the way to the second spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.

The lyrics Tritt belts out offer snapshots into Scott’s time of healing, like the fan-favorite opening line, “I’ve got rice cookin’ in the microwave,” or the line from another early verse, “I think I’ll make me some home-made soup.”

The song was borne from a painful time in Scott’s life. But creating a song that champions cherishing the precious nature of life helped foster a healthy, life-long perspective for the artist.

When asked if the song still has the same impactful meaning to him today, Scott shared how its message continues to influence him.

“It’s just taking that moment, when you realize, “Hey, it is a great day to be alive. I am glad to be alive.” There’s no shame in saying such a thing. And that’s still the case. You know, that wasn’t just in 1994 or ‘95 or ’97. Any day that you can feel that way is a great day.”

Touching on the importance of life’s little moments of joy, he said, “Man, anything that makes you grateful, is a great day to be alive.”

Cover for Darrell Scott's 1997 album "Aloha from Nashville," featuring "It's A Great Day To Be Alive." Sugarhill

Reflecting on 30 Years in the Business

With Scott’s story woven into the lyrics, the song takes on the role of a healing anthem. Tritt’s professional fingerprint transformed it into a career-building song.

The country singer often gives solo, acoustic performances these days, and “It’s a Great Day to be Alive” is always on the set list.

While speaking with music news outlet Holler Country, Tritt was asked to reflect on the last three decades of his career.

“It’s amazing to me. In some ways, it feels like it’s just flown by. … I’ve been doing this for 32 years now. Nobody was more surprised when it all happened than I was—I’m still marveling at the fact that it’s still going on after all this time. I just feel extremely blessed and thankful that I have an opportunity to do what I love so much.”

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