Carrie Underwood gifted fans not with chocolate bunnies and colorful eggs for Easter, but a powerful yet peaceful virtual concert for a good cause on Sunday (April 4).
The country star performed all 13 songs from her latest album, My Savior, live from Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. The venue was a perfect choice for the concert, which was streamed on Underwood’s Facebook page. The Ryman opened in 1982 as a tabernacle, and with its pews (empty due to COVID-19) and stained-glass windows, as well as being known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry, it was a fitting stage for the star — who described it as “the mother church of country music” — to sing some of her favorite hymns and gospels on the holiday.
She opened the show — which had more than 38,000 tuned in live at one point — with help from her friend Buddy Green on the harmonica, performing “Jesus Loves Me.” Underwood, dressed in an Easter-themed white and pink floral gown, then launched into her powerful and inspiring take on “Because He Lives,” her band socially distanced behind her.
In addition to Green, the seven-time Grammy winner was joined by Needtobreathe frontman Bear Rinehart on “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” Mac McAnally on guitar for “Just As I Am,” and famed gospel singer CeCe Winans for a duet of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Winans is also featured on the same tune on My Savior.
Underwood closed out her nearly one-hour show with a beautiful take on “Amazing Grace” that started quietly, her voice shining. Part way through the hymn, the choir joined in from the seats in the balcony as the band kicked it up several notches. Toward the end, the electric guitars kicked in as Underwood thanked viewers before wrapping up the song with a ton of energy and incorporating the chorus of her 2014 song “Something in the Water.”
The virtual concert benefited the non-profit Save the Children, which works around the world to help kids through times of crisis. An hour after the show ended, more than $71,400 had been raised for the organization.
If you missed Underwood’s Easter Sunday concert, you can view it on Facebook for the next two days.
