One of the greatest voices in country music, singing one of the great country songs of all time? Ya, I’d call that a home run.
Last night, the Nashville Songwriter Awards hosted by the NSAI honored legendary artist Vince Gill with one of the most acclaimed nods of the night, the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. And in light of his recognition, they chose none other than Chris Stapleton to sing one of Gill’s standout hits, “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
Considering Vince Gill is non-negotiably one of THE best vocalists in the genre, he’s a pretty tough cookie to beat when it comes to this transgenerational classic— even though many artists have attempted to put their own spin on it over the years. But luckily, when it comes to any Stapleton rendition, you’re destined for a standout show.
As if things couldn’t get any better, last night, September 22, Stapleton was joined on the Ryman stage by another country/bluegras staple, Ricky Skaggs, who also happens to be featured on the harmonies of the original version. The two stunned on a goosebump-inducing classic cover of the 1995 hit, which was inspired by both the death of Keith Whitley and Gill’s brother Bob.
I have to admit, while there was never any doubt the performance would be great, I really enjoyed getting to hear the song in a setting that wasn’t tied to a funeral or memorial tribute. Kudos to Stapleton, who’s been lending his powerhouse vocals to more than a few tribute performances over the past several weeks, including stepping in alongside Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and delivering an equally soul-crushing tribute to Dolly Parton.