Chris Stapleton Honors Vince Gill With a Powerful Performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain”

The Ryman Auditorium was filled with emotion Tuesday night as Nashville came together to celebrate one of country music’s most respected songwriters — Vince Gill.

On Sept. 22, the Nashville Songwriters Association International held its ninth annual Nashville Songwriters Awards, where Gill received the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor recognizing a songwriter whose work has made a significant contribution to the American songbook and inspired the careers of others.

But the emotional highlight of the evening came when Chris Stapleton took the stage.

Chris Stapleton Sings One of Vince Gill’s Most Meaningful Songs

To honor Gill and his extraordinary songwriting career, Stapleton delivered a powerful performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”

@bebe.leee Full body chills #nashville #rymanauditorium #chrisstapleton #goresthighonthatmountain #vincegill @Chris Stapleton ♬ original sound – Bebe Lee

The song has become one of Gill’s most enduring works — and its history makes the performance even more meaningful.

Gill originally recorded the song in 1994 for his album When Love Finds You. He began writing it after the death of country singer Keith Whitley in 1989, but the song later became deeply personal following the death of Gill’s half-brother, Bob Coen, who died of a heart attack in 1993.

What began as a song inspired by loss eventually became something much larger.

Over the years, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has become a familiar part of funerals, memorial services and tributes to artists who have passed away.

Ricky Skaggs Returned for a Special Moment

Stapleton wasn’t alone onstage.

Country music legend Ricky Skaggs joined him for the performance, adding another powerful connection to the history of the song.

Skaggs was part of the original 1994 studio recording, providing backing vocals alongside Patty Loveless. Decades later, he returned to help honor the songwriter behind the song at one of Nashville’s most important songwriter celebrations.

This time, Skaggs also delivered a beautiful mandolin solo, adding another layer of emotion to the performance. Andrea Zonn accompanied the song on fiddle.

A Song That Has Meant So Much to So Many

There are songs that become hits, and then there are songs that become part of people’s lives.

“Go Rest High On That Mountain” has become the latter.

Its message of peace, loss and remembrance has resonated with families, fans and musicians for decades. Hearing Stapleton sing it while Gill was being honored made the performance feel especially personal.

The moment also brought together multiple generations of country music — from Gill’s songwriting legacy to Skaggs’ connection to the original recording and Stapleton’s unmistakable voice.

And at the Ryman Auditorium, the setting couldn’t have been more fitting.

A Tribute Worth Remembering

Vince Gill has spent decades writing songs that have become part of the fabric of country music. Receiving the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award was a celebration of that contribution — but Stapleton’s performance offered something more personal.

Instead of simply talking about Gill’s legacy, Nashville heard one of his most powerful songs performed by another artist who understands the weight of a great country song.

With Ricky Skaggs beside him, Stapleton turned “Go Rest High On That Mountain” into a moving tribute to Vince Gill and everything his songwriting has given country music.

It was more than a performance. It was one generation of country music honoring another — through a song that has already touched millions of lives.