Vocal prowess Carrie Underwood and musician Vincent Gill earned a standing ovation for their performance of “How Great Thou Art” at the Academy of Country Music Awards’ Girls Night Out on April 22, 2011. The collaboration was a moving conversation between two superstars and the Heavenly Father. With their talents colliding and shining through the room that night, the performance couldn’t be any better.
Underwood stuns in a beaming silver sequin dress beside Gill, who is playing the guitar in a black blazer. The two started strong with Underwood’s incredibly emotive first verse, then to an operatic belting of high notes in the chorus. Gill blended in with soft backing vocals to balance out her full and powerful voice. Before the second verse, he passionately played the guitar while the crowd clapped for the talent displayed on the stage.
The audience couldn’t help but cheer for the duo after the performance ended. “Then sing my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,” Underwood sings. Every time the songstress hits the note effortlessly in the line, your soul rattles from the power of the divine transporting from her mouth unto the crowd. Gill’s ability to supply delicate guitar riffs, on the other hand, transcended spiritual barriers across music genres. Whether you share the same religious belief with the singers or not, you can’t help but be bewitched by Underwood’s dedication to set out the message of the song. Watching them that night must have been a privilege to brag about.
The classic Christian hymn was written back in the 19th century. It was originally a Swedish hymn entitled “O Store Gud,” written by Carl Boberg in 1885. Then in 1949, English missionary Stuart K. Hine released an English version of it. The song only became popular in 1957 when George Beverly Shea performed it at a Billy Graham crusade at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Since then, renowned artists such as Alan Jackson, Stalter Brothers, and Carrie Underwood have covered the song.
Due to popular demand, Underwood’s live performance with Gill became a viral hit, making its way to her 2014 compilation album titled Underwood’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1.
“How Great Thou Art” not only celebrates God’s supreme power but also reflects upon the sacrifice of Christ for the people’s sins. It looks forward to the moment when Christ returns for our salvation as we bow in humble admiration. The soaring melody inspires devotion and acknowledges the majestic power of God to create an awe-inspiring wonder on earth.
Let Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill’s performance of “How Great Thou Art” take you on a 4-minute spiritual journey you’ll never forget.
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