The Tabernacle Choir Blog

The Story behind "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

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Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in 1861. In this video, her great-great-great-grandson discusses the history behind the song.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has achieved great success with its renditions of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." In 1959 the Choir's performance of the song reached #13 on The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. The following year, the Choir won the GRAMMY Award® for Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus for its recording of the song.