Mother's Day, Vol. 7

May is here, and with it comes Mother's Day. I'm in my Toddler Mom Era myself, and I can absolutely still confirm that active, present, loving moms are absolute warriors. Here before us is the 2026 Audio Aesthetics Mother's Day Playlist - the full master playlist can be found on Apple Music by following @audioaesthetics. Let's see how we're musically celebrating our moms and mom-like figures (and the dads who fill that role as well when needed) this year!

The Perfect Fan by Backstreet Boys (written by B. Littrell, T. Smith)

Featured on Backstreet Boys's 1999 album Millennium, this song is such a sweet tribute to moms. Brian Littrell wrote this song about his own mom, and the lyrics are so touching. I'm personally lucky enough to be able to say that my mom has always been my biggest fan, and I know many other friends who can say the same.

It takes a lot to know what is love/It’s not the big things, but the little things that can mean enough/A lot of prayers to get me through/And there is never a day that passes by I don’t think of you/You were always there for me, pushing me and guiding me always to succeed/You showed me when I was young, just how to grow/You showed me everything that I should know/You showed me just how to walk without your hands/‘Cause Mom, you always were the perfect fan

Jesus, Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood (written by B. James, G. Sampson, H. Lindsey)

Featured on Underwood's 2005 album Some Hearts, this song has been memed for so long that I think some people forget the narrative of a mother and her baby being the center of the song. We don't know what kind of tough spot she's in, but we know this young mom is on her way to see her own mom to help settle her heart. What a blessing to have a mom who's a safe place to run no matter how old you are.

She was driving last Friday on the way to Cincinnati on a snow white Christmas Eve/Going home to see her mama and her daddy with the baby in the backseat/Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline/It’d been a long, hard year/She had a lot on her mind and she didn’t pay attention, she was going way too fast/Before she knew, she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass/She saw both their lives flash before her eyes, she didn’t even have time to cry/She was so scared, she threw her hands up in the air/Jesus, take the wheel, take it from my hands/‘Cause I can’t do this on my own/I’m letting go, so give me one more chance/Save me from this road I’m on, Jesus, take the wheel

Hey Mama by Kanye West (written by K. West, D. Leace)

Featured on West's 2005 album Late Registration, there's some good vocals from John Legend on this one. If one thing could ever be said about Kanye, it's that he did truly love his mother. He is not my favorite, but his devotion to her cannot be denied.

I wanna scream so loud for you/‘Cause I’m so proud of you, and I/Let me tell you what I’m about to do/I know I act a fool, but/I promise you I’m going back to school/I appreciate what you allowed for me and I/I just want you to be proud of me/I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine/This little light of mine and I’m finna let it shine/I’m finna take y’all back to them better times/I’m finna talk about my mama if y’all don’t mind/I was three years old when you and I moved to the Chi/Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold/You fixed me up something that was good for my soul/Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl/You work late nights just to keep on the lights/Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike/And you would give anything in this world/Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn’t give me a curl/And you never put no man over me/And I love you for that, Mommy, can’t you see/Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes/‘Cause a ***** cheating, tell you lies, then I started to cry/As we knelt on the kitchen floor/I said, "Mommy, I’ma love you ’til you don’t hurt no more/And when I’m older, you ain’t gotta work no more/And I’ma get you that mansion that we couldn’t afford"/See you’re unbreakable, unmistakable/Highly capable, lady, that’s making loot/A living legend, too, just look at what heaven do/Send us an angel, and I thank you

My Baby You by Marc Anthony (written by M. Muñiz, W. Afanasieff, J. Calandrelli, D. Shea)

Featured on Anthony's 1999 self-titled album, he may not be a mom but he certainly knows the love of a parent. This song was written by Marc Anthony for his daughter Arianna and is a lovely ode to a beloved child from a parent. These lyrics really resonate with me as I feel so similarly about my own daughter.

As I look into your eyes, I see all the reasons why/My life’s worth a thousand skies/You’re the simplest love I’ve known and the purest one I’ll own/No, you’ll never be alone/My baby, you are the reason I could fly/And because of you, I don’t have to wonder why/Baby, you, there’s no more just getting by/You’re the reason I feel so alive

My Only Child by The Highwomen (written by A. Shires, M. Lambert, N. Hemby)

Featured on The Highwomen's 2019 self-titled album with lead vocals from Natalie Hemby, this song from a mother to her only child is full of a sort of sweet sadness. My husband is an only child, and was one myself for half of my childhood until my brother came along, so I know from a child's perspective what a special relationship that is. Whether by choice or by circumstance, there's no shame whatsoever in having or being a "one and done" family.

I know you wish you had a brother who had blue eyes just like you/I know you wish you had a sister you could tell your secrets to/Maybe we’ll miss having four sets of china on the table/But I guarantee you this, you mean more to me than branches to a maple/Pink painted walls, your face in my locket/Your daddy and me, your tiny back pocket/Mama’s first love, last of my kind/You’ll always be my only child

Mama Said by The Shirelles (written by W. Denson, L. Dixon)

Featured on The Shirelles's 1961 album The Shirelles Sing to Trumpets and Strings, this is a fun, lively '60s bop. Just about everyone has a "Mama said" moment in their life as they grow up. This old school R&B song is great to have an impromptu dance party with either your mom or your kids.

Mama said there’ll be days like this/There’ll be days like this, Mama said/Mama said there’ll be days like this/There’ll be days like this, my mama said/I went walking the other day/And everything was going fine/I met a little boy named Billy Joe/And then almost lost my mind

Sabbath Prayer by Zero Mostel, Maria Karnilova, & Cast (written by J. Bock, S. Harnick, D. Walker, M. Greene)

Featured in Act 1 of the 1964 original Broadway cast recording of Fiddler on the Roof, this prayer performed by Tevye & Golde for their Sabbath family meal is one of the most beautiful in the show. Their plea to God to bless the lives of their five daughters is endearing. Even though the story doesn't play out like they'd hoped (watch the show), their prayers are certainly answered.

May the Lord protect and defend you/May He always shield you from shame/May you come to be in Yisroel a shining name/May you be like Ruth and like Esther/May you be deserving of praise/Strengthen them, oh Lord, and keep them from the strangers’ ways/May God bless you and grant you long lives/May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you/May God make you good mothers and wives/May he send you husbands who will care for you

Call your mom this weekend if you can (whatever that looks like for you), and if you're a mom yourself I hope you get the celebration you deserve. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!