Introduction
A Moment of Grace: The Oak Ridge Boys Sing “Amazing Grace” at President George H.W. Bush’s Funeral
On a quiet December morning in 2018, the pews of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston were filled with world leaders, family, and friends gathered to say goodbye to President George H.W. Bush — a man remembered for his faith, humility, and lifelong service to his country. But amid the solemn prayers and heartfelt eulogies, one moment rose above the rest — when The Oak Ridge Boys stood together and sang “Amazing Grace.”
It was a performance years in the making, one born from friendship and promise. The legendary country and gospel quartet — Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban — had been close to President Bush and his wife, Barbara, for decades. Their bond stretched back to the 1980s, when Bush, then Vice President, invited the group to perform at the White House. Over the years, they sang for him many times, both in moments of celebration and quiet reflection.
As the service unfolded, the atmosphere inside the church was reverent. When the Oak Ridge Boys were called to the front, they didn’t stride — they walked slowly, their heads bowed, their hands clasped. Duane Allen spoke softly before they began:
“We first sang for him at the White House. We’ve sung for him many times since, but this is probably the hardest one we’ll ever do.”
Then came the first note — simple, unaccompanied, and pure. Joe Bonsall’s tenor broke the silence with the opening line: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…” The harmonies followed, weaving together in the way only the Oak Ridge Boys could — full, resonant, and filled with emotion.
There was no orchestra, no grand arrangement — just four voices echoing through the vast sanctuary. As they sang, the camera panned across the congregation: George W. Bush, tears streaming down his face; Laura Bush, hands folded tightly; members of Congress and former Presidents all visibly moved by the song’s power.
For those who had followed the Oak Ridge Boys through their 50-year career, it was a moment that captured everything they stood for — faith, brotherhood, and the enduring strength of gospel music. But for that one morning, it wasn’t a performance. It was a prayer.
When the final line — “Was blind, but now I see” — faded into silence, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even seasoned reporters later admitted it was one of the most moving tributes ever witnessed at a state funeral.
Afterward, Duane Allen reflected, “He asked us long ago to sing ‘Amazing Grace’ for him one day. We told him we would — and we meant it.”
That promise, kept with such tenderness, became one of the most unforgettable moments in both the Oak Ridge Boys’ and America’s shared story.
Because on that morning in Houston, as four voices rose to heaven, it wasn’t just Amazing Grace they sang — it was the sound of friendship, faith, and farewell.