The Heartfelt Story Of "Can She Have This Dance": Why Drew Baldridge's Song Is The Ultimate Mother-Son Wedding Ballad

The phrase "Can She Have This Dance" has become an emotional staple in the modern wedding landscape, and as of late 2024 and heading into 2025, it is dominating the playlists for the most sentimental moment of the reception: the Mother-Son dance. This deeply personal country ballad, written and performed by independent artist Drew Baldridge, has resonated globally because it captures the unique, bittersweet feeling of a mother giving her son away while cherishing one last dance with the boy she raised. The song's authenticity and touching lyrics have cemented its status as a must-have track for grooms wanting to honor their mothers on their special day, making it one of the most talked-about wedding songs of the decade.

The track’s viral success is a testament to its genuine origin, as Baldridge penned it specifically for his own wedding, unable to find a song that perfectly expressed his feelings for his mother. This personal touch is what sets "Can She Have This Dance" apart, transforming a simple request for a dance into a powerful, tear-jerking tribute to a lifelong bond. Its continued popularity on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, alongside its consistent use in wedding videos, shows its enduring cultural impact.

Drew Baldridge: A Biography of the Artist Behind the Wedding Anthem

The man who gave the world one of its most cherished wedding songs is country music singer-songwriter Andrew Ray Baldridge, known professionally as Drew Baldridge.

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• Full Name: Andrew Ray Baldridge
• Date of Birth: July 29, 1991
• Hometown: Patoka, Illinois
• Career Origin: Baldridge grew up in Patoka, Illinois, and initially focused on sports, playing basketball and baseball, but his musical talent shone through when he began performing the National Anthem at his games.
• Career Trajectory: He is a Nashville-based independent country artist who has built a decade-long career on "honest songs" and a deep connection with his fanbase. His early career saw him release singles via Cold River Records.
• Key Releases: Before his major wedding hit, Baldridge was known for tracks like "Dirt on Us" (2016).
• Personal Life/Inspiration: Drew Baldridge married his fiancée, Katherine Kraus (Katie), in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on May 7, 2021. His inability to find the perfect mother-son dance song for his own wedding was the direct inspiration for "Can She Have This Dance."
• Label: He releases his music through his independent label, Patoka Records.

The Genesis and Emotional Power of "Can She Have This Dance"

The song's creation story is as moving as its lyrics, lending it an unparalleled level of authenticity. Drew Baldridge released "Can She Have This Dance" on May 12, 2023, via Patoka Records.

Writing a Song for a Lifelong Bond

The concept for the song came to Baldridge ahead of his own wedding to Katherine Kraus. He and his mother were struggling to find a suitable song for their dance that truly captured the essence of their relationship and the significance of the moment. Most existing mother-son dance songs felt either too generic or didn't quite fit the modern perspective of a son honoring his mother as he starts a new life.

The lyrics are a direct, heartfelt conversation from the groom to his mother, acknowledging the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. The core of the song is the simple, poignant request: "Can she have this dance? Can she steal me for the next one? Just three more minutes for a mama and her son." This phrasing perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a son wanting to pause time for one final, cherished moment with the woman who raised him.

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Commercial Success and Chart Performance

While the song is a massive cultural hit, its commercial performance also shows its impact. Following its May 2023 release, the track quickly began to climb digital charts. It debuted on the iTunes chart in June 2023 and reached a peak position of #20 by October 2023. Its success is largely driven by organic sharing and its adoption by wedding DJs and planners, who recognize it as an essential addition to any contemporary wedding playlist. The ballad's soulful delivery and acoustic feel make it a perfect choice for an emotional, spotlight moment.

The Cultural Phenomenon: Why This Song is a 2025 Wedding Staple

The song's resonance goes beyond the country music genre, transforming it into a general wedding music phenomenon. It has become a top contender alongside classic mother-son dance songs, offering a fresh, modern alternative to older tracks.

Dominating Wedding Music Trends in 2024 and 2025

In the world of wedding planning, the search for the "perfect" song is constant. "Can She Have This Dance" fills a specific niche that modern couples and their families crave: a song that is both sentimental and relevant. Wedding blogs, DJ services, and social media platforms consistently list the track as a top choice, ensuring its continued use throughout 2024 and well into the 2025 wedding season.

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The song is frequently paired with other heartfelt wedding songs that celebrate familial bonds, such as father-daughter dances and other special family moments. The raw emotion in Baldridge's vocals and the simplicity of the piano and guitar arrangement make it incredibly versatile for creating a memorable and tear-jerking experience.

The Topical Authority and LSI Keywords in Context

The song's success has generated a wide range of related entities and search terms, solidifying its topical authority in the wedding and country music space. Key LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that naturally emerge from the song's context include:

• Wedding Music: Mother-Son dance songs, wedding reception playlist, special dance songs, modern country wedding music, wedding tradition.
• Emotional Context: Heartfelt ballad, familial bonds, groom's tribute, emotional wedding moment, special moment with mom, tear-jerker song.
• Artist/Label: Drew Baldridge music, Patoka Records, independent country artist, Nashville songwriters, Katherine Kraus.
• Alternatives/Comparisons: Could I Have This Dance (a different, older song often confused with it), Tim McGraw, Jason Mraz, country artists.

The song's true power lies in its ability to connect with the universal experience of a mother watching her son grow up and start his own family. By writing a song from his own personal experience, Drew Baldridge created a timeless piece of music that speaks to every mother and son preparing for that final, symbolic dance before the groom says "I do." It is a beautiful, necessary addition to the modern wedding music canon, proving that the most authentic stories make the biggest impact.