Both the Queen of Country, Reba McEntire, and the legendary Oak Ridge Boys sang Thursday during former President George H.W. Bush’s funeral in Texas.
Moments after they walked onto the platform, the Oak Ridge Boys’ lead vocalist, Duane Allen, recalled the first time they sang for Bush, in 1983, on the lawn of the White House when he was serving as vice president.
“For decades, we have sang for him,” Allen said. “And this is, again, a real honor to be here. What a lot of people may not know is he fancied himself to be a good bass singer. … He was not. We’ll sing for our president.”
The a cappella quartet then performed “Amazing Grace”:
"We'll sing for our president."
The Oak Ridge Boys sing "Amazing Grace" at funeral service for former Pres. George H.W. Bush in Houston, TX. https://t.co/GVUtvaVWZW #Remembering41 pic.twitter.com/0ipkITrNvL
— ABC News (@ABC) December 6, 2018
After the Oak Ridge Boys sang the beloved hymn, country music icon McEntire sang a stirring rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston:
Reba McEntire sings "The Lord's Prayer" at a funeral service honoring former Pres. George H.W. Bush. https://t.co/GVUtvaVWZW #Remembering41 pic.twitter.com/pe5VkN5FFT
— ABC News (@ABC) December 6, 2018
In the wake of the elder Bush’s death on Friday, McEntire took to Instagram to post a few photos of the nation’s 41st president, whom she described as both a “great president” and a “great friend.”
“Everyone in the country music business was so honored when President and Mrs. Bush joined us at the CMA awards,” the entertainer wrote, recalling when the Bushes attended the gala in 1991.
After her performance Thursday, McEntire said it was an “an honor and privilege” to sing at the late president’s funeral in Houston.
“It was an honor and privilege to sing at President George H.W. Bush’s funeral this morning,” she wrote. “He was a great friend and leader and I will never forget the time we shared together.”
McEntire has been a longtime friend of the Bush family. After Barbara Bush’s death in April, the Queen of Country described the former first lady as “one-of-a-kind.”
“Mrs. Barbara Bush was one-of-a-kind. I was so honored the day she called me ‘Dearie,’” McEntire wrote. “I learned so much from her. Mainly to enjoy life, and spend more time with your family and friends. Mrs. Bush, I will miss you so much, my friend. Happy trails to you, till we meet again. Love, Reba.”