The Oak Ridge Boys To Sing For Their “Friend” George H.W. Bush

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The Oak Ridge Boys will keep a promise they made to the late President George H.W. Bush when they sing “Amazing Grace” today at Bush’s hometown funeral in Houston, Texas. “It’s what you do for friends,” Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen says. 

The band had actually been preparing for this moment for quite some time, since Bush previously wrote that he wanted them to sing at his funeral. They had actually been in talks with the Bush family for six months, and they knew about three or four weeks ago that his condition was deteriorating. 

Allen has actually been friends with Bush since the 60s, and they played at a White House barbecue in the 80s when Bush was Vice President. As for “Amazing Grace,” the band also sang the song for Bush during his inauguration.

“President Bush means so much to us," The Oak Ridge Boys' Richard Sterban shares. "George Bush requested before he passed away that we sing 'Amazing Grace,' his favorite song, at his funeral. There's no way we wouldn't do it. He always taught us to do the right thing, and it is a tremendous honor. One final time here on this earth, we're going to sing it for him and we believe in our hearts we'll see him again one day and we'll sing it for him again."

Source: USA Today