Cody Johnson Brings Audience to Tears With “How Great Thou Art” at Texas Flood Relief Concert

In July, catastrophic flooding devastated the Texas Hill Country, tragically claiming 135 lives. Amid heartbreak and loss, country music artists—many of them proud Texans—stepped up to help their neighbors heal.

Pat Green, who personally lost family members in the flood, organized a benefit that raised more than $1 million. George Strait, “The King of Country,” hosted an intimate concert that brought in an incredible $6.25 million for relief efforts. And the giving didn’t stop there.

On Sunday, August 17, Texas natives Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum hosted their own star-studded fundraiser, “Band Together Texas,” at Austin’s Moody Center. The lineup was nothing short of legendary, featuring Cody Johnson, Ronnie Dunn, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Ryan Bingham, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, and even a surprise appearance from Garth Brooks.

One of the most powerful moments of the night came when Cody Johnson walked on stage.

Before singing, Johnson spoke directly to the crowd, offering words of comfort and perspective:

“Sometimes God’s plan for us, we think it sucks, but it’s still God’s plan. As long as we keep the faith in Him, there’s a lot of comfort, and a lot of peace, and a lot of understanding that we don’t understand, that He has and we don’t.”

With the arena silent and expectant, Johnson delivered a stripped-back version of the classic hymn “How Great Thou Art.” His voice, raw and powerful, echoed through the Moody Center as the audience lifted their hands in worship. It was less a concert performance and more a shared moment of faith, grief, and healing.

For those who couldn’t attend, the entire benefit was livestreamed on YouTube—and Johnson’s performance starts at the 2:54:55 mark. Trust us when we say, you’ll get chills watching it.

💭 Think Deep: Tragedies like this remind us how fragile life can be—and how important it is to stand together. Music may not rebuild homes, but it can rebuild hearts. And sometimes, a single song can carry more healing power than words ever could.