Chris Stapleton paid tribute to country music legend Vince Gill with a powerful performance of “Go Rest High On That Mountain” as Gill received a prestigious lifetime achievement honor in Nashville.

The tribute took place Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the ninth annual Nashville Songwriters Awards, held by the Nashville Songwriters Association International at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

Gill was presented with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a songwriter whose work has made a significant contribution to the American songbook and inspired the careers of other artists.

To celebrate the milestone, Stapleton took the stage to perform one of Gill’s most enduring songs.

Chris Stapleton Performs Vince Gill Classic

“Go Rest High On That Mountain” has remained one of Vince Gill’s best-known and most emotionally resonant songs since its release.

Gill first recorded the song in 1994 for his album When Love Finds You. The song was partly written as a tribute to his late half-brother, Bob Coen, who died of a heart attack in 1993.

However, the song’s origins can be traced back even further. The death of country singer Keith Whitley in 1989 initially inspired Gill to begin writing it.

Over the years, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” has become closely associated with funerals and memorial performances, making it a fitting choice to celebrate Gill’s songwriting legacy.

Ricky Skaggs Joins Stapleton For The Tribute

Stapleton was joined by Ricky Skaggs for the special performance at the Nashville Songwriters Awards.

Skaggs has a particularly strong connection to the song. He appeared on the original 1994 studio recording, contributing backing vocals alongside Patty Loveless.

For the Nashville performance, Skaggs added a mandolin solo, creating another musical highlight alongside the fiddle played by Andrea Zonn.

The collaboration brought together multiple generations of country musicians to honor Gill and one of the songs that has become a lasting part of his musical legacy.

Gill’s recognition with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award capped an evening celebrating his contributions as a songwriter, while Stapleton, Skaggs and Zonn helped mark the occasion with an emotional performance of one of his most beloved compositions.

Source: Compiled from various sources