Carrie Underwood Sent Vince Gill To Tears With Powerhouse Performance Of 'Go Rest High On That Mountain'

Mar 03, 2023

Vince Gill is a renowned American country music singer, songwriter, and musician who made waves in the 80s. He has amassed commercial success as a soloist and as the frontman of his own country rock band, Pure Prairie League, in the 70s. 

Born in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1957, Gill was encouraged to a life in music by his own father, who encouraged him to become an instrumentalist – learning to play the banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin, Dobro, and fiddle. 

Eventually, Gill’s career took off, which established him to be one of the biggest country musicians in the world. 

Selling more than 26 million albums, Gill is a legend in his own right. The Oklahoman native has recorded over 20 studio albums and more than 40 singles in the Hot Country Songs charts. 

The Country Music Association has given him 18 CMA Awards, which were composed of five Male Vocalist Awards and two Entertainer of the Year recognitions. The Recording Academy has also bestowed Gill a total of 22 Grammy Awards, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.  

In 2016, Joe Walsh inducted him to the Guitar Center Rock Walk and was hired by the Eagles in place of Glenn Frey in 2017, along with Deacon Frey. 

One of Gill’s most popular songs was his 1995 hit “Go Rest on That High Mountain,” which won the CMA Song of the Year Award in 1996 and received two Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song in the same year.

Since then, the song has been covered numerous times by various artists, one of which was country music royalty Carrie Underwood. Her cover proves to be one of the most beautiful of all, as she sent Gill into tears during her performance. 

Underwood stands out among other country music artists with her very distinctive high-register voice. In a review of one of her concerts, The Times Union described that "she'll let loose with an improbably long note that runs through more octaves than you knew existed."

Born on Mar. 10, 1983, Underwood started her singing career when she was young, performing at their church in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The singer finally skyrocketed to fame in 2005 following her win on the hit competition series "American Idol." 

Following the show, Underwood went on to release a number of successful singles and albums while showcasing her incredible voice and vocal abilities. Some of her most well-known songs include "Before He Cheats," "All-American Girl," and "Jesus, Take The Wheel." Receiving plenty of awards and recognition, Underwood has gone on to become one of the most popular female country singers of all time. 

In September 2022, Underwood was chosen to honor Gill at the “CMT Giants” TV special by singing one of the singer’s most loved hits – “Go Rest on That High Mountain.” 

Moments before her performance, Underwood gave a short, impassioned speech, recalling her experience growing up, watching and listening to Gill become one of her influences in her now-bustling career. 

“He’s an Okie boy, and I’m from Oklahoma. I feel like getting to grow up and see him and other artists like him that were from a little bit down the road go on to live the dream that I wanted to someday maybe have was just super inspiring,” Underwood admitted. "He’s got obviously an incredible voice and just some of the most memorable songs in this era of country music. It’s just an honor to get to be here.”

Underwood was decked in a light aquamarine gown while her s angelic vocals filled the arena as she gave a powerful tribute to Gill. She is accompanied by a choir of Belmont students throughout the performance of “Go Rest on That High Mountain.”

It is no wonder that Rolling Stone listed “Go Rest on That High Mountain” as the No. 17 Saddest Country Song of All Time – the somber yet poignant message that the song evokes will surely make everyone who hears it moved by its lyrics. 

“Oh, how we cried the day you left us. We gathered round your grave to grieve, wish I could see the angels faces When they hear your sweet voice sing,” Underwood sang. “Go rest high on that mountain – Son your work on earth is done, Go to heaven a-shoutin', Love for the Father and the Son.”

During the soulful performance, the camera panned to a teary-eyed Gill, who was also mouthing the lyrics from time to time. After her performance, the whole stadium erupted into applause and gave her a standing ovation. 

It was particularly special that Underwood performed the song at the television special as she was also a vocal-practicing Christian, just like Gill is. The two have collaborated before in a performance of “How Great Is Thou Art.”

At that time when the roles were reversed, Gill presented Underwood a special award from the Academy of Country Music for being the first and only female artist in the academy's history to ever win Entertainer of the Year twice. Underwood and Gill’s performance of the song was so great it amassed over 4.7 million views.

Isn’t Carrie Underwood’s performance magnificent? Which version of the song do you prefer more – Underwood or Vince Gill’s original? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!