Here’s your daily dose of goose bumps.
Almost 15 years ago, country legend Ronnie Dunn blessed everyone’s ears with an incredible rendition of Sugarland’s 2007 platinum hit, “Stay.” Performed during CBS’s special tribute, ACM Girls Night Out, the thirty-time ACM award winner and one-half of Brooks & Dunn, absolutely crushed this powerful serenade in honor of his good friend, Jennifer Nettles.
The track is actually Sugarland’s only hit that was solo-written by Nettles, and safe to say the emotional song remains a classic. After being introduced by Sugarland partner, Kristian Bush, Dunn starts his tribute by telling Nettles, “Jennifer, my love, you’ve been an incredible friend to me, and it’s an honor to sing this song tonight. I hope I can do it justice.”
In a resurfaced clip posted on TikTok, the camera pans to a weepy-eyed Reba shaking her head along to Dunn’s rendition, and I don’t think anything can be more relatable. Nettle’s unique and captivating vocals are initially what made the song a chart-topping hit back in 2007, but there’s no denying that Ronnie Dunn’s voice is beyond stellar.
There’s just something about the ‘90s singer’s vocals that elevates any track, and rewatching the clip only makes me upset that people weren’t petitioning for an officially released cover. Transforming the song into the male’s perspective, Dunn had everyone in the audience in awe, including the other honorees of the night, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Loretta Lynn, Carrie Underwood, and The Judds.
Naturally, the Sugarland singer was deeply moved by the performance, which ended with a standing ovation, teary eyes, and her rushing over to thank him. One commenter even referred to Dunn as “one of the most magical voices in music,” and after watching the full performance, it’s hard not to agree.
Watch the full clip: