Country Nostalgia: Remember “The Little Girl” by John Michael Montgomery?

The great part about country music (or one of them, because there are many) is that it can have an impact on your life. A song can be so moving it touches you in a way most other genres of music cannot.

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There's no better example than "The Little Girl" by John Michael Montgomery.

Released in August of 2000, "The Little Girl" would be the lead single off Montgomery's Brand New Me album. It also features Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski (of Union Station) on backing vocals.

The song is an emotional roller coaster that tells the story of a little girl who was in an abusive household where her mom and dad argued and even did drugs. Halfway through the song her parents tragically die, but she finds a new foster home with loving parents.

...then the last verse and chorus come along and delivers one last emotional twist that captures your heart. I won't give it away though if you haven't heard it...

Written by the late songwriter Harley Allen, "The Little Girl" would go on to reach number one on both the Billboard and Mediabase country charts by November of 2000, as well as reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would also be John Michael Montgomery's final number one hit, although he would reach the top 2 again in 2004 with "Letters From Home."

"The Little Girl" is a song like no other because it dares to go into a dark place -- even darker than you would expect a hit song to go. But it's hard not to be moved by it and the ending often brings listeners to tears.