Mother’s Day 2020 is here, and we are honoring the incredibly strong mothers of the music industry who defied the odds in one way or another over the years. Although this year’s Mother’s Day is quarantined, we found a way to your mothering heart with a list of extraordinary songs by mothers and songs for mothers. So please, grab a box of tissues and your Mother’s Day martini, kick back and listen to this lovely playlist.

We The Kings frontman, Travis Clark, wrote “What I Wouldn’t Give” for his late mother-in-law, who he stated was the bands’ biggest fan. The song was penned the day after her passing, and was not planned to be released until his father-in-law asked if he’d play it at her celebration of life. Afterwards the family sat him down and asked if he would release the track because “Mama Bear would be so proud”. Additionally, Travis noted that she loved listening to him play the piano, and it felt like she was with him as he sat at the piano and wrote the song for her – it all came together in just 13 minutes.

“The Mother” by Brandi Carlile is dedicated to her daughter Evangeline. The accompanying video for the song opens with “The Mother,’ dedicated to every mother, everywhere.” The video entails various different, selfless mothers caring for their children by brushing hair, cooking, breastfeeding and attending their child’s sports games. Brandi wrote “The Mother” plays tribute to her little girl, and her experience with motherhood as a whole. 

Beyonce’s “Blue” (ft. Blue Ivy) is a ballad dedicated to her first born child Blue Ivy – who is heard babbling her toddler-talk at the end of the song. The song is all about being in love, forever, with her baby girl. “Sometimes these walls seem to cave in on me / But when I look into your eyes / I feel alive / Some days we say words that don’t mean a thing / But when you’re holding me tight / I feel alive.” 

P!nk released a video of her and her daughter Willow Sage Hart recording “A Million Dreams” back in 2018, and it is an adorable mother-daughter moment for sure! We can see P!nk being silly with Willow at the beginning of the video, before the song begins and the little girl’s voice flawlessly hits each beautiful note. 

Ke$ha co-wrote “Learn To Let Go” with her mother Pebe Sebert, and is about coming to terms with fear and resentment. Sebert is no stranger to the process of writing and the stresses that come along with it. Having started a career in the 70s writing for country singers and watching her tracks top the charts, suffice to say she’s learned a thing or two about this unforgiving industry. Her mother’s words of wisdom helped guide Ke$ha through the writing process, and accepting that she cannot control everything in her life. There’s really nothing quite like a mothers’ wisdom – filled with love and purpose.

Adele’s “Sweetest Devotion” is all about her son, Angelo, and that when he was born, her life started to be all about someone else. Adele also confessed that becoming a mother for the first time influenced her life – she may have never returned to the recording studio if Angelo’s birth had not have had the impact it did.

“My Baby” by Britney Spears was penned at the end of a traumatic year, as an ode to her sons Jayden and Sean as she lost custody of them. After getting her babies back, she wrote this song and dedicated it to the boys for inspiring her to get her life and career as an artist back on track. 

Alicia Keys wrote “Speechless” after the birth of her first son Egypt inspired her. She wrote the lyrics “When I wake up in the morning babe / Can’t believe my eyes / Sweetest little part of destiny.” A beautiful ballad featuring rapper Eve, written by Keys, and produced by her husband. 

Mother’s Day is a coveted day for beloved mother’s across the nation. And since many people are not able to go see their mom’s on this lovely day, send her a playlist containing all the songs that remind you of her. Here are a few to get you started. Happy Mother’s Day to all the strong, beautiful and independent mother’s out there. You deserve the world.