50 Songs About Family, From Classic Anthems to Country and Disney

What is the best song about family?

"We Are Family" by Sister Sledge is the song most people think of first, and it still fills dance floors at every reunion. For something quieter, "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and "Love Can Build a Bridge" by The Judds speak to what holds a family together. And for families with young kids, "The Family Madrigal" from Encanto has become a modern classic.

Classic songs about family

1. "We Are Family", Sister Sledge: the family anthem.
2. "Teach Your Children", Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: what generations teach each other.
3. "Our House", Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: everyday domestic happiness.
4. "Family Affair", Sly and the Family Stone: a soul classic about family ties.
5. "Family Reunion", The O'Jays: made for the reunion playlist.
6. "Cat's in the Cradle", Harry Chapin: a reminder to make time.
7. "In My Life", The Beatles: the people and places that made you.
8. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: family is who you lean on.
9. "Isn't She Lovely", Stevie Wonder: joy at a new arrival.
10. "I Am a Child", Buffalo Springfield: a child speaking to a parent.

Country songs about family

11. "Love Can Build a Bridge", The Judds: love that gets a family through anything.
12. "Family Is Family", Kacey Musgraves: about loving your relatives, quirks and all.
13. "Crowded Table", The Highwomen: a home with room for everyone.
14. "Big Family", Hailey Whitters: a joyful song about a big, loud family.
15. "Family Tree", Caylee Hammack: about roots and the people who came before.
16. "There Goes My Life", Kenny Chesney: how a child changes everything.
17. "Family Bible", Willie Nelson: memories of faith at home.
18. "Mom and Dad's Waltz", Lefty Frizzell, also recorded by Willie Nelson.
19. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: what parents hope to pass on.
20. "My Wish", Rascal Flatts: a parent's hopes for every child.
21. "Remember When", Alan Jackson: a family life in a few verses.

Pop and rock songs about family

22. "The Nights", Avicii: inspired by advice from his father.
23. "Chosen Family", Rina Sawayama with Elton John: for the family you choose.
24. "Home", Phillip Phillips: a promise of a place to come back to.
25. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: a promise to always show up.
26. "Daughters", John Mayer: about what parents pass on.
27. "The Best Day", Taylor Swift: childhood memories with mom.
28. "Growing Up", Bruce Springsteen: about the family you leave and carry with you.
29. "My Hometown", Bruce Springsteen: a father passing his town on to his son.
30. "Forever Young", Rod Stewart: a parent's blessing for the kids.

Hip-hop and R&B songs about family

31. "Just the Two of Us", Will Smith: father and son.
32. "Keep the Family Close", Drake (clean edit).
33. "Family Business", Kanye West: about holding a family together (clean edit).
34. "Mockingbird", Eminem: a father's promise to his daughters (clean edit).
35. "A Song for Mama", Boyz II Men: a thank-you to the woman who held it all together.
36. "Dear Mama", 2Pac (clean edit).

Disney and kids' songs about family

37. "The Family Madrigal", from Encanto: the whole family introduced in one song.
38. "We Don't Talk About Bruno", from Encanto: every family has one.
39. "Surface Pressure", from Encanto: for the big sister who carries everything.
40. "Remember Me", from Coco: about the family members we keep alive in memory.
41. "You'll Be in My Heart", Phil Collins, from Tarzan: a promise of protection.
42. "You've Got a Friend in Me", from Toy Story: family can be your best friends too.

Songs for a family slideshow or reunion

43. "Photograph", Ed Sheeran: memories kept in pictures.
44. "100 Years", Five for Fighting: a whole family life, one verse at a time.
45. "Landslide", Fleetwood Mac: about time and change.
46. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong: gratitude for the people around you.
47. "Celebration", Kool & the Gang: for the moment everyone arrives.
48. "Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond: three generations singing the chorus.
49. "September", Earth, Wind & Fire: the dance-floor song for every age.
50. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: nothing keeps family apart.

What is a good song about family love?

For a song about the love inside a family, "Love Can Build a Bridge" by The Judds and "Teach Your Children" are hard to beat: both are about what parents and children give each other over a lifetime. "Humble and Kind" works for a parent speaking to grown children, and "You'll Be in My Heart" for a parent speaking to a little one. If you want a love song that the whole family can sing at once, "Lean on Me" is the one people already know by heart.

Family songs for a wedding or blended family

When two families join at a wedding, some couples add a unity moment with the children or both sets of parents. "Count on Me", "We Are Family" and "Crowded Table" all fit that moment, and "You've Got a Friend in Me" is a sweet choice when young children are part of the ceremony. For a blended family, songs about choosing each other tend to work better than songs about blood ties.

What is a good song to dedicate to your family?

For a toast at a reunion or holiday dinner, choose something everyone can relate to: "We Are Family" for the fun moment, "Teach Your Children" or "In My Life" for the heartfelt one. For a family slideshow, start with a light song for the old photos and end with something warm for the newest generation. Add a sentence about what the family means to you; that is what people remember.

Family songs for the holidays

Thanksgiving and Christmas are when most families are together in one room. Mix the family classics above with the holiday ones everybody knows, and let the kids pick a few. A playlist that includes one song from every generation (grandparents, parents and kids) keeps everyone happy and starts conversations about the music each of them grew up with.

Family songs for kids

For little ones, the family songs that work best are the ones they can sing along to and act out: "The Family Madrigal" and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Count on Me". For a classroom family day, a simple song where each child names someone in their family is always a hit.

Family songs for a memorial

When a family gathers to remember someone, songs about home and togetherness can be more comforting than sad songs: "In My Life", "Remember When", "Remember Me" from Coco and "What a Wonderful World". See also our list of songs for a memorial service.

Songs about chosen family

Family is not only the people you are related to. For friends who became family, a blended family or a found family, "Chosen Family", "Lean on Me", "Count on Me" and "We Are Family" all fit. See also our list of songs about best friends and our ideas for a blended family.

How do you choose a family song?

• Know your audience. A reunion with grandparents and toddlers needs songs that work for both.
• Check the lyrics. Some songs with "family" in the title are about broken families.
• Use clean edits. Especially for hip-hop at family events.
• Ask the family. Collect one favorite song from each household before the event.

A song written about your family

Every song above was written about someone else's family. A personalized family song can name the people in yours, tell the story of how it started, remember the house everyone grew up in and celebrate the newest arrivals. It is perfect for a reunion, a milestone anniversary of your parents or grandparents, or a holiday gift that every household can keep. See our Christmas song for the family.

How to create a family song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, pop, folk, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add up to three names, such as the grandparents or the family name.
3. Share three family memories, each with one concrete detail.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page everyone can play and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your family a song of its own: create a family song and hear four previews for free.