Tim McGraw Writes and Performs a New Song for the ‘Free Solo’ Documentary

Grammy Award-winner Tim McGraw contributes an original song to the upcoming National Geographic Documentary Films project, Free Solo. McGraw co-wrote “Gravity” with Grammy Award-winner Lori McKenna (“Girl Crush”) for the film and performs the song on the documentary’s soundtrack.

Free Solo was directed by Chai Vasarhelyi (Incorruptible, Meru) and Jimmy Chin (Meru) and documents Alex Honnold in what’s described by The New York Times as “one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind ever.” The film had its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and will open in theaters on September 28, 2018.

McGraw’s “Gravity” will be released digitally later this year.

“There are few people who pursue their passion with the fearlessness of Alex Honnold. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating to be on that journey with him when you watch Free Solo. Lori McKenna and I wanted the lyrics of ‘Gravity’ to be a reminder that fear is a battle fought on a variety of planes, from mental to spiritual to physical. We tend to think ‘fearlessness’ is synonymous with big, bold gestures, but there’s also a fragility inherent in risk — and we wanted that to come through. In the studio, Byron Gallimore and I wanted a track that sonically resonated with Marco Beltrami’s score and felt as big as El Capitan,” stated McGraw.

“It was an honor to work with Tim McGraw, and he truly delivered a stunning song with ‘Gravity,’” says music supervisor Tracy McKnight. “The song perfectly captures the heart and soul of this remarkable film and Alex Honnold’s extraordinary achievement.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with two of the most phenomenally talented artists in the world — music superstar Tim McGraw and top-tier songwriter Lori McKenna,” said Ashley Winton, vice president, music, National Geographic Partners. “Their genuine passion and honesty shines through in the track, ‘Gravity,’ further connecting audiences to the profoundly aspirational story told in Free Solo.”

The Plot: Free Solo is a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock … the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … without a rope. The edge-of-your-seat thriller is an inspiring portrait of an athlete who challenges both his body and his beliefs on a quest to triumph over the impossible, revealing the personal toll of excellence.