"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a U.S. number-one single by Bette Midler from the soundtrack of the film Beaches. It was named Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1990.
Written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar, the song has also been recorded by Sheena Easton, B.J. Thomas, Perry Como, Lee Greenwood, Willie Nelson, Kiki Carter, Nana Mouskouri, Sonata Arctica, Judy Collins, Colleen Hewett, Kris Shay and many others. It was performed by Peggy Lee in Atlantic City as early as 1984. It was performed on season three of the Fox television show American Idol by semi-finalist Marque Lynche, and again on season five by finalist Paris Bennett, who was criticized for the choice by judge Simon Cowell as "sounding too old for [her] age". It was also performed by Nicola Roberts during Popstars: The Rivals, and sung by actor Will Ferrell to actress and long-time Midler fan Megan Mullally.
Although the song has become primarily associated with Bette Midler, other versions of the song were released to the public years before Midler's. Sheena Easton (on her album Madness, Money and Music) and Roger Whittaker both released versions of the song in 1982, though neither had a hit with it. The song entered various U.S. charts the following year in versions by Gary Morris, Gladys Knight (her version was released under the title "Hero"), and Lou Rawls (whose version was a top ten Adult Contemporary hit).
In a recent U.K. poll, "Wind Beneath My Wings" was found to be the most-played song at British funerals.
This song is considered to be Midler's signature song.
The song appears at 269 in the Songs of the Century list compiled by the RIAA.
The song is often featured in the top five feel-good and film-theme countdowns on such channels as MTV, TMF, and the Music Factory.
Midler sang the song at a 9/11 benefit at the Yankee stadium.
"Wind Beneath My Wings" was the name of an episode of Commander In Chief, Geena Davis' short lived political drama; Midler and Davis are good friends.
In mid-2001, the song was covered by Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica and released on its EP Orientation (available only in Japan).
It was deemed Britain's favorite American ballad by Channel 4 (2004).
In the television sitcom Boy Meets World the characters Morgan and Cory Matthews sing the song in an episode. Morgan for a talent competition and Cory for his father. Than_the_Average_Cory" target="_blank">http://boymeetsworld.wikia.com/wiki/Better_Than_the_Average_Cory
In _Code Lyoko, Aelita Hopper mentions this song while flirting with Jeremie Belpois in the second Season 4 episode.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai Gilmore sings a portion of the song to daughter Rory Gilmore in an episode upon discovering Rory was the cause of a fight between her present and ex-boyfriends where they destroyed a house at a party.
It was played at the funeral of Princess Diana.
