Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill’s How Great Thou Art Performance Goes Viral

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On April 4, 2011, Carrie Underwood performed “How Great Thou Art” on the ACM Presents: Girls Night Out show. She sang alongside American singer-songwriter Vince Gill and received a standing ovation.

The performance was televised on CBS on April 22, 2011, and shortly after it ended, Underwood’s single version of the song reached number one on iTunes’ Top Gospel Songs chart and forty on iTunes’ All-Genre Songs chart.

It also debuted at number two on Billboard’s Christian Digital Songs chart and thirty-five on the Country Digital Songs chart. Underwood’s version, which features Gill, is included in her 2014 compilation album, Greatest Hits: Decade No. 1.

“How Great Thou Art” Is a Beloved Christian Hymn With a Rich History

The original Swedish hymn, “O Store Gud,” was written in 1885 by Carl Boberg. It was translated into English by Stuart K. Hine in 1949, and the English version quickly became popular.

George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows popularized the hymn during Billy Graham’s crusades. It was also voted the British public’s favorite hymn by BBC’s Songs of Praise.

During the ACM Presents: Girls Night Out show on April 4, 2011, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill delivered a powerful collaborative performance that received a standing ovation from the audienceDuring the ACM Presents: Girls Night Out show on April 4, 2011, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill delivered a powerful collaborative performance that received a standing ovation from the audience (CBS)

“How Great Thou Art” has been ranked second (after “Amazing Grace”) on a list of the favorite hymns of all time in a survey by Christianity Today magazine in 2001 and a nationwide poll by Songs Of Praise in 2019.

The hymn’s enduring popularity is due to its simple yet powerful lyrics, which express the awe and wonder of the human experience of God. The hymn’s message of hope and redemption has resonated with people of all faiths for generations.

Does Carrie Underwood Believe in Jesus?

Yes, she is a Christian singer. In March 2021, Carrie Underwood released her eighth album, My Savior, a collection of hymns close to her heart.

These hymns are reminiscent of her childhood experiences in a small Baptist church in Oklahoma, where she vividly remembers the congregation singing together, creating a sense of community and nostalgia. The album represents a personal connection to her roots and faith.

When selecting songs for the album, Carrie chose hymns that held significant meaning to her, such as “How Great Thou Art” and “Softly and Tenderly.” These songs have been part of her live performances, and she wanted to share them with her audience.

Carrie Underwood's captivating rendition of "How Great Thou Art" became a viral sensation and amassed 3 million views on YouTube within just two daysCarrie Underwood’s captivating rendition of “How Great Thou Art” became a viral sensation and amassed 3 million views on YouTube within just two days (Credit: CBS)

“When we started out making our list, it was a very long list of songs to sing. And I knew I had my pillars: I wanted to record ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Softly and Tenderly,’ because those are ones I’ve been singing over the years in live situations. And ‘Just As I Am’ was another one, because that was our altar call song. It was always the song that ended church. [I] walked down the aisle to the front during the altar call to declare myself a follower of Christ,” she told NPR about her Christian album.

“When I made this album, I’m performing for an audience of one. I’m gonna cry talking about it, but… The whole time I was in the studio, any time I get to sing these songs, I close my eyes and I’m the only person in the room. It’s my heart for God. And I love that. It is a different feeling. It’s happy and it’s deep. And I feel like I’m making my relationship better and deeper with God when I’m singing these songs. So they’re just so important for my heart.”

Carrie Underwood Stuns in Red at 2017 Grammys in Elie Madi Dress

We rarely see Carrie Underwood dress up in red, but for the 2017 Grammy Awards, the country singer decided to go for it at one of the biggest music events of the year.

Carrie Underwood's signature blonde locks were elegantly styled in an updo, allowing her natural beauty to shine throughCarrie Underwood’s signature blonde locks were elegantly styled in an updo, allowing her natural beauty to shine through (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Apega / WENN)

The wealthy country singer shunned her usuals for a color that she rarely reaches for. Maybe it was a bit of a tribute to Valentine’s Day?

Carrie made her stunning appearance on the red carpet of the 2017 Grammys in her striking color-of-choice. The singer was set to perform with fellow country musician Keith Urban on the Grammy stage.

Carrie Underwood selected a mesmerizing crimson embellished gown from Kuwaiti fashion house Yas Couture by Elie Madi at the 59th Grammy AwardsCarrie Underwood selected a mesmerizing crimson embellished gown from Kuwaiti fashion house Yas Couture by Elie Madi at the 59th Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12, 2017 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Apega / WENN)

Carrie turned to her recent designer-of-choice, Yas Couture by Elie Madi, for the bold dress. The dress consisted of sheer fabric doused with metallic embellishments, a cutout at the front bodice, a front slit, and bell sleeves.

Carrie Underwood balanced out her red look with a pair of metallic Jimmy Choo sandalsCarrie Underwood balanced out her red look with a pair of metallic Jimmy Choo sandals (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Apega / WENN)

The singer finished her look with jewelry from Nigaam Jewels and Effy Jewelry, a Randall Scott ring, and a pair of metallic Jimmy Choo sandals.

Carrie Underwood performed "The Fighter" with country star Keith Urban at the 59th Grammy AwardsCarrie Underwood performed “The Fighter” with country star Keith Urban at the 59th Grammy Awards (Credit: CBS)

Carrie admitted that she never goes for red but was feeling the color for the awards night. We think the color looks good on her, but the dress itself was a little bit too sexy for Chinese New Year for us. Maybe if it were a different cut, we’d love it more.

She also shared her enthusiasm for country music, explaining that the genre allows for vivid storytelling.

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