Chris Stapleton Sings “Go Rest High On That Mountain” As Vince Gill Is Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
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On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) held its ninth annual Nashville Songwriters Awards at the Ryman Auditorium.
There, singer-songwriter Vince Gill was honored with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, which is “given in recognition to a songwriter whose works have made a significant contribution to the American songbook and who has inspired the careers of others,” according to the NSAI website.
To commemorate Vince receiving this honor, country artist Chris Stapleton led a powerful cover performance of one of Vince’s most beloved songs, “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
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Watch Chris Stapleton Perform “Go Rest High On That Mountain” To Honor Vince Gill
“Go Rest High On That Mountain” is one of the great, enduring songs by singer-songwriter Vince Gill.
First recorded in 1994 for his album When Love Finds You, the song was written, in part, as an ode to Vince’s late half-brother, Bob Coen, who died of a heart attack in 1993.
However, it was the death of 34-year-old country artist Keith Whitley in 1989 that was the initial spark for the song.
Over the years, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has become a staple of funerals and in memoriam segments at award shows.
Celebrating Vince’s contributions to music on Sept. 22 at the Nashville Songwriters Awards, Chris Stapleton was joined by Ricky Skaggs for a performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
Notably, Skaggs is on the original 1994 studio recording of the song, providing backing vocals alongside Patty Loveless.
For the special performance of the song at the Nashville Songwriters Awards, Skaggs also provided a beautiful mandolin solo that complemented the accompanying fiddle work, performed by Andrea Zonn.
Watch Chris Stapleton honor Vince Gill with a performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” featuring Ricky Skaggs, here:
@bebe.leee Full body chills #nashville #rymanauditorium #chrisstapleton #goresthighonthatmountain #vincegill @Chris Stapleton ♬ original sound – Bebe Lee
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