Introduction
RAW NEWS: The Oak Ridge Boys Speak Out About Singing to President George H. W. Bush — “It Was More Than a Performance. It Was Family.”
When the Oak Ridge Boys took the stage to sing for President George H. W. Bush one final time, it wasn’t a concert — it was a goodbye between lifelong friends. The moment, filled with emotion and quiet reverence, became one of the most unforgettable performances in both country music and American history.
In a recent interview, the legendary quartet — Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden, and Joe Bonsall (before his passing) — opened up about that day at the Bush family’s request, when they were asked to sing “Amazing Grace” and “Elvira” at the late president’s funeral in 2018. What the public saw as a touching tribute, the group remembers as deeply personal.
“President Bush wasn’t just a fan,” Duane Allen said softly. “He was a friend. He loved gospel music, he loved humor, and he loved people. Singing for him wasn’t a duty — it was a promise we made years ago.”
That promise came decades earlier, when the Oak Ridge Boys performed for Bush while he served as Vice President. After the show, Bush pulled the group aside and told them, “Boys, promise me one thing — you’ll sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at my funeral someday.” At first, they thought he was joking. But Bush never forgot.
When the call came from the Bush family years later, the Boys didn’t hesitate. “We dropped everything,” Richard Sterban recalled. “We didn’t think twice. We packed our suits, our hearts, and went to honor our friend.”
As they stood inside St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, the weight of the moment hit them. William Lee Golden described it as “the hardest song we ever had to sing.” The air was heavy with grief, but also gratitude — a celebration of a life lived with service, humility, and humor.
“When we started ‘Amazing Grace,’ I could see the family holding hands,” Golden said. “Jeb and George W. were right there in front. You could feel the emotion, the love, the respect. It was powerful — like heaven was listening.”
After the service, the Boys returned to their hotel in silence. “We didn’t say much,” Sterban admitted. “We just sat there, each of us thinking about what that friendship meant. We’ve sung in front of kings, popes, and presidents — but that day, it wasn’t about any of that. It was about saying farewell to a friend who loved music and lived with grace.”
Over the years, the Oak Ridge Boys performed at countless presidential events, but their connection to George H. W. Bush was unique. He often invited them to the White House, wrote them handwritten letters, and even joked about joining the group as their “fifth Oak.”
Now, years later, they still carry that memory close. “It reminded us what music can do,” Allen said. “It can comfort, it can heal, and sometimes, it can say goodbye better than words ever could.”
For the Oak Ridge Boys, that day in Houston was more than a performance. It was the final harmony in a friendship that spanned generations — a testament to the enduring power of faith, music, and love.