60 Heartwarming Father-Daughter Dance Songs

Father-daughter dances are an intimate and loving moment between a father and his daughter during a special time in her life. It allows for a special bond to be created and enforces the love that a father and daughter share. The father-daughter dance songs that they listen to during this dance embody their relationship and can completely shift the moment in a certain direction. If you’re struggling to find father-daughter dance songs, take a look at these 60 ideas to help spark some inspiration and create the perfect father-daughter moment.

Classic Father-Daughter Dance Songs

1. The Way You Look Tonight

For any old school father and daughter duo, this 1964 Frank Sinatra song is sure to make your moment feel special. The song is all about how Sinatra admires and loves the person he is singing about. He discusses how much he loves her and thinks she looks beautiful, just as any father would think of their daughter on their wedding night.

2. My Girl

Any father who absolutely adores his daughter and wants her to know it would find this song to be the perfect choice as their father-daughter dance song. Sang by The Temptations in 1965, this song discusses how “my girl” makes the artists feel safe, happy, and complete. Your daughter is sure to feel like your special girl while dancing along to this song.

3. What a Wonderful World

This classic song sang by Louis Armstrong in 1967 is the perfect choice for a slower, heartfelt father-daughter dance song. The song talks about all the lovely things there are in the world that make it so wonderful. If your father-daughter relationship is all about appreciating the little things in life, this song is sure to be a hit.

4. Lean On Me

If your father-daughter relationship is all about support and trust, then this song will express the message you want to deliver perfectly. Bill Withers sings this 1972 song about leaning on him and asking for help whenever it is needed. It mimics the relationship many fathers feel they have with their daughters in supporting and encouraging their dreams.

5. You Are So Beautiful

If you’re looking for a father-daughter song that allows for a father to make his daughter feel like a queen, this slow-paced 1974 song will do the trick. Joe Cocker sings this song about how beautiful he feels the receiver of the song is and how proud he is of them, just as many fathers feel about their daughters.

6. How Sweet It Is

This 1975 classic by James Taylor is all about “how sweet it is to be loved by you.” He discusses how he feels towards this person and how he is so grateful for the love and support he has received. This can go both ways in a father-daughter relationship, making it a tear-jerker for anyone watching.

7. Isn't She Lovely

This song will do the perfect job expressing exactly how any father feels towards their daughter, repeating the questions of “isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she beautiful?” Regardless of the event, this 1976 Stevie Wonder song makes for the perfect tribute to a beautiful daughter on any special day.

8. Just the Way You Are

Not to be confused with the Bruno Mars song, this 1977 classic by Billy Joel is both touching and heartfelt. This song is all about how he accepts the subject of the song exactly as they are, during good times and bad times. Many father-daughter relationships go through bumps in the road, but just like the song both love each other just the way they are no matter what.

9. Forever Young

Such a perfect song for anyone who grew up in the ’80s. Sang by Alphaville in 1984, this song discusses how he wants to stay “forever young” as an innocent child. Many fathers feel this way when having to watch their little girl grow up, and this song is sure to bring that out along with the waterworks.

10. I'll Stand By You

“I’ll Stand By You” sung by The Pretenders in 1994, focuses more on the hard side of a relationship, and how important loyalty is. The chorus lyrics say that they “won’t let nobody hurt, I’ll stand by you” much like how many fathers feel about their daughters. This protection and loyalty is something that many fathers feel is hard to let go of, especially at events that lead to big changes like weddings or coming of age dances.

Country Father-Daughter Dance Songs

11. My Wish

This Rascal Flatts song from 2006 is written with the intention of it being a father-daughter relationship. They sing about how they wish the best for their daughter and want them to be as happy and successful they can be. He tells her to keep her dreams big and worries small, and to always remember that someone loves them no matter what.

12. Humble and Kind

Just like the title suggests, this song is about remembering where you come from staying humble and kind no matter what. The 2016 song by Tim McGraw sounds a lot like what a parent may tell their child when growing up and the life lessons they may have to go through while growing up.

13. Butterfly Kisses

This is a much slower, holier country song for father-daughters who prefer that kind of music. In this song by Bob Carlisle from 1995, he discusses his relationship with his daughter and how he watches her grow up. The song ends with him walking her down the aisle and feeling as though he is losing her, but is reminded he isn’t when she gives him butterfly kisses.

14. Roots and Wings

Miranda Lambert sings all about the different things she is grateful for in her life, including her father and everything she has been able to learn from him. For any daughter who feels as though they credit their success to their parents' love and support, this 2016 song hits the nail on the head.

15. You are My Sunshine

Taking it back to old school songs, this 1969 Johnny Cash classic will make anyone smile while listening to it. In the song, he talks about how much he loves this person who is his sunshine. He begs that he doesn’t have his sunshine get taken away, much like many fathers feel during a father-daughter dance at a significant time in their lives.

16. Don't Blink

“Don’t Blink” is all about not taking life for granted and seizing each and every day you have. For a lot of fathers, this can correlate to watching their daughters grow up. Choose this 2007 Kenny Chesney song as your father-daughter dance song if you can relate to this feeling.

17. I'll Be Your Man

This is another song written with the intention of being a father-daughter song, as the artist, Zac Brown Band, is singing it about his own daughter. He talks about how no matter what happens he will always be his daughter's man because he “thought he knew love until she came into this world.”

18. All American Girl

The beginning of this song starts off by explaining how her father prayed for a son but ended up with a girl. Carrie Underwood continues on to explain how despite this her father still ended up loving her unconditionally, just as many other fathers feel when having a daughter despite wanting a son.

19. When You Say Nothing At All

This song by Ronan Keating describes a type of love between two people where even if no words are said, both know that they are needed by the other and love each other. A lot of the time this is how father-daughter relationships can feel, so this song could be the perfect way to express this type of love during a father-daughter dance.

20. My Little Girl

Our second Tim McGraw song, this one from 10 years earlier in 2006, is another father-daughter-made song, where McGraw is singing directly to his daughter. He explains how even though she is going to grow up, she will always be his little girl that no man is good enough for, like many other fathers express to their daughters as well.

Early 2000's Father-Daughter Dance Songs

21. I Hope You Dance

Sung by Lee Ann Womack from the year 2000’s this song is all about how she hopes her daughter will always take risks in life and live it to the fullest. The song is a reminder to not sit back and watch life go by, and expresses every parent’s dream for their child.

22. Daughters

In this song from 2003, John Mayer explains the importance of treating a woman right, especially one that means so much to you. The chorus of the song ties this concept into fatherhood by explaining how a father-daughter relationship is essential in the growing up of every girl. This song would be an especially good choice for a father-daughter dance song during an event such as a wedding, where the father is “giving away” his daughter.

23. Never Grow Up

Taking it back to Taylor Swift’s origin days, this 2010 song is from a father's point of view, begging for their innocent daughter to stay young and childlike. The chorus repeatedly states how they don’t want her to grow up, while each verse explains a new aspect of her life as she gets older. The song ends with her moving out to the city and wishing she was still little and innocent, showing the bond between father and daughter.

24. To Know Him is To Love Him (Amy Winehouse Rendition)

This 2006 Amy Winehouse Rendition of a classic song creates the perfect tone for a slower father-daughter dance. Her voice perfectly suits the ballad, as she explains how much she loves the man being discussed in the song. His personality and smile are enough for her love, just like any daughter's love of their father.

25. Daddy's Little Girl

In this song, Michael Buble is singing directly to his daughter while describing all the things he loves about her. He tells her she’s a “precious gem” and that she’s “daddy’s little girl.” For any father-daughter relationship with a “daddy’s little girl” mentality, this song is the perfect father-daughter dance song.

26. Halo

This jam from 2001 sung by Beyonce is such a powerful uplifting song about how much she loves and appreciates the subject of the song. She describes them as her “saving grace” and being “surrounded by their embrace.” For any daughter who looks up to her father and loves them very much, this song is a perfect tribute to that feeling.

27. Hero

In this 2001 classic Enrique Iglesias sings about how much he desperately wants to be the subject's hero. He discusses how much he loves them and would do anything to take care of them. At the same time though it sounds as if he is begging her to let him stay in her life and be that hero he wants to be. This is how many fathers feel when their daughters are transitioning to a new chapter in life, making it the perfect expression of their emotions.

28. You Raise Me Up

This folky, slow-beat song from 2003 is based on a relationship between two people where there is a strong support system. Josh Groban beautifully sings this piece about being raised up by this special person in their lives, much as a daughter can feel about her father and everything he has sacrificed for her.

29. Gravity

Another John Mayer song, this one from 2005, discusses how this force of “gravity” is working against John Mayer. This of course is a metaphor for time and how little of it we have on this Earth with each other. These types of feelings can be exemplified during a father-daughter dance, which is usually during an event that signifies a change in the father or daughter's life.

30. Ready, Set, Don't Go

For anyone who grew up on the Disney Channel, this 2007 Billy Ray Cyrus song written for his daughter, Miley Cyrus, is the perfect father-daughter dance song. He talks about how he’s watching her grow up and become successful, however, he’s not ready to let her go. This can emulate so many different types of father-daughter relationships and the feelings a parent goes through when their child grows up.

Father-Daughter Dance Songs From the Original Soundtrack

31. Dancing Queen

One of the most classic Abba songs, that is of course featured in the soundtrack of Mama Mia, is Dancing Queen. Throughout this movie, Sophie is learning all about what it is like to have a father and what that relationship is like. This song in particular enforces the ideas of growing up as a strong independent woman and being able to make a name for yourself.

32. Unforgettable

Although not as noticeable in the movie, this song in the Finding Dory soundtrack is cleverly used to describe Dory’s relationship with her parents. Throughout the movie, Dory is searching for her parents due to her short-term memory loss, however by the end of the movie she is able to find them after they have been searching for her for years as well. This shows despite Dory’s memory problems, her parents are unforgettable because of their love for each other.

33. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)

A classic song from a classic childhood movie, This Will Be was a perfect feature in the 1998 film The Parent Trap. As two long-lost twins bring their parents back together, they form bonds with their newfound parents. At the end of the movie, they end up as a family, with the song playing as a statement to their relationships being an everlasting love.

34. Father and Daughter

If you watched The Wild Thornberrys on Nickelodeon growing up, then you will recognize this song by Paul Simon from The Wild Thornberrys Movie. Even if you’ve never seen the movie this song is arguably one of the best father-daughter dance songs ever. Simon repeatedly states how “there could never be a father who loves his daughter more than I love you” with a beautiful young girl's voice in the background to represent the daughter.

35. Because You Loved Me

With such a powerful voice like Celine Dion, this song featured in Up Close and Personal sends a powerful message about how important support is from someone you love. She talks about how she is only the strong person she is because the subject held her up when she was weak, similar to the main characters in the movie. This is exactly how many daughters may feel about their fathers, as “everything [they] are is because [their father] loved them.”

36. God Only Knows

Switching to a more upbeat song by the beach boys, God Only Knows is about how despite relationships are not always steady, the impact your love has on someone can drastically change their lives. Not only does this fit the plot of the movie it’s featured in, Love, Actually, but it can also simulate how a father-daughter relationship is, and the fears they may have of growing apart.

37. Fathers & Daughters

Written for the movie Fathers & Daughters, this song by Michael Bolton is written specifically as a father-daughter song. Definitely, a more deep and personal song, Fathers & Daughters discusses how strong a Bolton knows his daughter can be in tough situations, and how he’ll always be there for her no matter what.

38. Butterfly Fly Away

Another Billy Ray Cyrus song, this time singing with his daughter Miley Cyrus featured on the track, is from a childhood classic for any ’90s-’00s baby, The Hannah Montana Movie. Throughout the movie, Billy Ray is worried about losing his daughter as she grows up, and this song comes during the resolution where he discovers he has to let her grow up and fly away, however that doesn’t mean she won’t always love him.

39. You've Got a Friend In Me

Such an iconic song from the classic Disney Movie Toy Story, You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman is all about maintaining a loving relationship with someone despite growing up and changing. In this scenario, it is about a toy and its owner, however, the song can still apply to any relationship like it.

40. Over the Rainbow

A Hawaiian native, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, sings this song featured in the movie 50 First Dates, which fittingly takes place in Hawaii. Despite being a comedy, this movie does hold some tragedy as the main character suffers from terrible memory loss after being in a car accident. Her father and brother work to remake the same day for her because she always wakes up believing it’s that day. This song expresses how despite never being able to live a normal life, because of her bond with her father she can still be happy and live in this fantasy world “over the rainbow.”

Upbeat Father-Daughter Dance Songs

41. Glory

John Legend does a beautiful job building this song, with Common’s feature adding a tone of rap. This song is definitely a tribute to the BLM movement and is a good fit as a father-daughter song for anyone who can relate to these struggles and strengths they gain as a result, especially by fueling this strength through family and relationships within it.

42. Here Comes the Sun

This classic Beatles song is an uplifting testament to how despite things changing and people settling into their lives, there's always a positive to look at. In this case, it makes for the perfect father-daughter song because despite whatever changes either person is going through, a father/daughter will always have the other as their sun.

43. Brown Eyed Girl

Obviously, this song only works if the daughter in the relationship has brown eyes, however, it is the perfect upbeat song for a father to make a statement about his daughter. Sung by Van Morrison in 1967, this song repeatedly states and expresses his love for his “brown-eyed girl.” An added bonus; the “Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da, la-tee-da” is sure to get all your guests out of their seat!

44. You're My Best Friend

Just like the title states, this 1976 Queen song is all about how much the singer loves and appreciates their best friend. This can be applied in a father-daughter relationship, with lines like “ooh you make me live” and “you’re my sunshine” applying directly to how a father or daughter may feel about one another.

45. Tiny Dancer

In this song, Elton John spends the majority of the song talking about his tiny dancer. He describes her as “pretty-eyed” and repeatedly states how he wants her to hold him closer. This is very much how a father may feel during a father-daughter dance, as they never want to let their little girls go.

46. Stand Be Me

A classic 1961 Ben E King original song, Stand By Me is all about how no matter how rough things get, King can always depend on this one person to stand by him. This can go either way in a Father-Daughter relationship, as both father and daughter rely on one another’s love and support.

47. Mi Niña Bonita (My Beautiful Girl)

For anyone who loves Spanish music, Mi Niña Bonita (translated to “My Beautiful Girl”) by Chino and Nacho explains how strong a relationship is and how much both people love each other and depend on each other. The girl in the song is described as being their princess, just as many fathers call their daughters.

48. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

Bringing it back to rock anthems, this 1998 Aerosmith song can perfectly describe how a father may feel as their daughter grows up. As a daughter gets older she begins to live her own life and becomes less dependent on her father. This can be difficult on the father because they “don’t want to miss a thing,” which this song does a really good job of describing.

49. Sweet Child O' Mine

Another rock classic sung by Guns N’ Roses, Sweet Child O’ Mine is a song all about a girl being described as the singer's “sweet child.” Throughout the song, he references how beautiful the girl is, and how he is worried about where their relationship is going. This is how many fathers can feel with their daughters at events where father-daughter dances take place.

50. She's a Rainbow

Sticking with old school rock bands, The Rolling Stones released this song in 2016, giving us old school rock and roll in a modern time. The song is about how a girl is a rainbow and has “colors everywhere.” This sounds exactly how a father might describe his daughter who lights up his life.

Modern Father-Daughter Dance Songs

51. Only One

Another song was written specifically for their daughter, Kanye West wrote this song in 2014 for his daughter North West. Featuring Paul McCartney, this song is perfectly placed for a slower song and is more of an internalized conversation Kanye is having about his daughter and how much he loves her.

52. Right By You (for Luna)

John Legend specifically wrote this song for his daughter Luna the year that she was born. For anyone looking for a touching father-daughter dance song, this is the perfect option if you want to look back and reminisce on what it felt like when your daughter was firstborn.

53. One Call Away

This song by Charlie Puth from 2016 perfectly describes any message a father may want to send to his daughter before she transitions into adulthood. In the entire song, Puth emphasizes how he will always be there for the subject and is only “one call away” just as I’m sure many fathers repeatedly say to their daughters.

54. Daddy Lessons

For someone with a more tough love father-daughter relationship, this Beyonce song is more set towards you. She discusses how her father made her strong and how to be a fighter. If you feel as though your father-daughter relationship built you into a strong, tough woman that prepared you for the world, this song is perfect to dance to.

55. Dance Like Your Daddy

This Meghan Trainer song goes through how sometimes you just have to let everything go and dance as your daddy taught you. She goes on to describe this as not caring about what other people think and just having fun, which is exactly how you’ll feel dancing to this father-daughter song.

56. I Love You So Much

This less conventional father-daughter dance song is by Dj Khaled ft. Chance the Rapper about his relationship with his son. Throughout the song, both artists explain how much their love is for their children and how they would do anything for them. This song is a perfect father-daughter dance song if you’re looking for music styles more related to what is played on the radio now.

57. First Man

An intentional father-daughter song written from the perspective of the daughter, this 2019 Camila Cabello song is heartfelt and beautiful. She talks about how she’s in a relationship with a man she loves, but she’ll always remember the first man she loved and treated her right to be her father.

58. Perfect

Just like the title suggests, this 2017 Ed Sheran song is all about how perfect he believes the subject of the song to be. This very closely fits how a father might describe his daughter, as many fathers believe their daughters to be perfect no matter what. The pace of this song makes it perfect for a slower, touching father-daughter dance song.

59. Moon River

Frank Ocean sings this slow song that is meant to make anyone feel safe and warm. He describes a moon river that two people are drifting through together, watching the world go by. This is how many father-daughter relationships can feel if you ever had to go through something tragic or difficult together.

60. Letter to My Daughter

Written within the past year, this modern song is a good father-daughter dance song for anyone who prefers rap music. Quando Rondo wrote this song specifically for his daughter and how he will always love and take care of her. If you prefer a less conventional type of father-daughter song, this song will be perfect for your event.

Father-Daughter Dance Songs: Conclusion

Whatever the occasion may be, these 60 father-daughter dance songs are sure to help give you the perfect father-daughter dance with your loved one. Remember to make it as personal as possible and try to choose a song that you know will touch your hearts. It’s also important to remember the genre and time frame in which you pick the song from and the memories that are associated with it. Don’t forget the tissues for this emotional celebration! For more wedding-related content, check out our Wedding Budget Checksheet, Wedding Checklist, and Wedding Ideas.

Written by Jacqui Kaliouby