Oak Ridge Boys Sing 'Amazing Grace' At George H.W. Bush Funeral

The Oak Ridge Boys paid tribute to America’s 41st president by singing ‘Amazing Grace’ at the George H.W. Bush funeral. Thousands of people gathered at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, to celebrate the life of the late president. According to the Chicago Sun Times, the former president wrote that he wanted his favorite group to sing the classic hymn at his funeral.

'Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.'

During the service in Texas, the Oak Ridge Boys noted that they first sang for Bush in October 1983, when he was Vice President of the United States. Joe Bonsall of the group recalled the then Vice President asking the group to sing for him. He said, “We first sang for him in October of 1983 on the lawn of the White House when he was Vice President and he said, ‘Fellas,’ he always called us fellas, ‘would you sing me a few songs? I’m a big fan.’

The group then sang Amazing Grace for the President, noting what a great honor it was to sing for him one last time. The group’s lead singer, Duane Allen noted, “It’s what you do for friends.” Reba McEntire also sang at the president’s hometown funeral. The Christian country star sang an emotional rendition of the Lord’s prayer in celebration of the 41st president’s life.

Bush was laid to rest in his home state of Texas. According to the Chicago Tribune, President Bush will be buried next to his wife, Barbra Bush, in his family plot on the presidential library at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Credit: Christian Headlines