Song written by Chrissie Hynde, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg.
Pretenders version
The song was recorded in 1994 by the Pretenders on their sixth studio album, 'Last of the Independents'. The song is a ballad that pledges love and faithful assistance in times of personal darkness. It was released as a single in 1994 and reached number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 in the UK chart.
Since its initial release, 'I'll Stand by You' has also become a major hit for Girls Aloud in 2004 and Carrie Underwood in 2007, both times recorded as a charity single.
Kim Wilde version
In 2011, Kim recorded the track in the studio during sessions for the album Snapshots. The track was released as part of a download bundle on iTunes only.
Live performances
'I'll stand by you' was performed live during Kim's concerts in 2008, 2009 and 2010.