Vince Gill Honors Charlie Kirk With “Go Rest High on That Mountain”
Last Sunday, nearly 90,000 mourners filled and surrounded State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, gathering to honor the life of Charlie Kirk. It was one of the largest memorials in recent American history — a moment of collective grief, faith, and remembrance.
But even before that historic service, the voice of country music legend Vince Gill had already offered a powerful tribute.
A Song of Farewell
Just days earlier, Vince Gill stepped quietly under the spotlight, guitar in hand. With a stillness that commanded the room, he strummed the opening chords of his timeless ballad, “Go Rest High on That Mountain.” The crowd leaned in as his familiar voice, weathered yet tender, carried the words that have comforted generations.
Gill did not rush. He lingered on each note, stretching the song into an extended version — a gift of time, reverence, and love. Every lyric seemed to take on new meaning, echoing the sorrow of Charlie’s passing but also the hope of eternal peace.
More Than Music
For those listening, it was not simply a performance. It was a prayer set to melody. Each verse rose like incense, reminding all present of the promise of heaven, the reality of grief, and the enduring strength of faith.
Some in the audience closed their eyes, letting the words wash over them. Others wept openly, holding hands or bowing their heads in silence. Together, they experienced a sacred moment where music became ministry.
A Fitting Tribute
“Go Rest High on That Mountain” has long been Vince Gill’s hymn for loss, written after the death of his own brother. But in this setting, it became Charlie Kirk’s song — a farewell offered by one of country music’s most respected voices to a man whose life left a mark on millions.
As the final chords faded, the room did not erupt in applause. Instead, it held a hushed reverence, as though everyone knew they had witnessed something eternal.
For Charlie’s family, for his wife Erika, and for all who mourned, Vince Gill’s tribute was more than music. It was a reminder that even in tragedy, faith sings — and that in Christ, the story does not end.