Carrie Underwood Brings Vince Gill to Tears with a Heartfelt Performance of “Go Rest High on That Mountain” at CMT Giants Tribute

At the star-studded CMT Giants ceremony celebrating Vince Gill’s extraordinary career, Carrie Underwood delivered a deeply moving performance of “Go Rest High on That Mountain” that brought the audience to their feet and left Gill visibly emotional.

The televised event featured a host of country music icons, including Chris Stapleton, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Maren Morris, Cody Johnson, and Luke Combs, all paying tribute to Gill’s remarkable legacy. However, it was Underwood’s poignant rendition that stood out, as she performed under a solitary spotlight in a flowing blue gown. Her heartfelt delivery captured themes of loss, faith, and redemption, creating an unforgettable moment.

Underwood’s performance was an intense and stirring one that honored the song’s original style, which Gill had penned almost three decades earlier. “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” Gill’s 1995 smash hit, bagged two Grammy Awards, including the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in 1996. Over the years, the song has offered solace and comfort to countless listeners.

Gill wrote it after his brother Bob passed away from a heart attack in 1993. Despite initially being against recording the track, producer Tony Brown convinced him to do it, and it went on to become a massive hit. Gill once remarked, “When people are in the depths of despair and hurting the most, they’re reaching out to that song. And that means way more to me than where it charted.”

Underwood’s performance featured the fresh final verse Gill introduced in 2019, creating a powerfully cathartic climax that had Gill reaching to wipe tears from his face. Underwood’s music career kicked off after she won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Her debut album, Some Hearts (2005), is the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history. She snagged three Grammy Awards for the album, including Best New Artist. Underwood has gone on to churn out one successful album after another, winning several Grammy Awards in the process.

In 2020, Underwood released “My Gift”, her first Christmas project, which earned widespread critical acclaim. She followed it up in 2021 with her debut gospel collection, My Savior. Her 2022 studio album, “Denim & Rhinestones”, marked her triumphant return to her country-pop roots.