Thirty years ago, Vince Gill released a song that would come to define a moment in country music and help an entire generation of listeners grappling with love and loss.
“Go Rest High on That Mountain,” released on Aug. 28, 1995, still maintains a grip on the heart three decades later, described as “one of the most significant and enduring songs in country music having resonated with listeners around the world,” via a press release shared with Parade.
It’s now a RIAA certified double-platinum single, taking home two Grammys in 1996, for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, along with CMA Award for Song of the Year, since its release. The following year, it also received BMI’s Most Performed Song award.
Gill first began writing the song following the tragic death of his friend and fellow country artist and labelmate, Keith Whitley, in 1989; however, the loss of his own brother, Bob Gill, in 1993 gave him the push to complete it.
The third verse didn’t make its official debut until a 2019 performance at Nashville Ryman Auditorium as part of Gill’s annual Christmas shows with wife, Amy Grant.
The new verse, which he said made the song finally feel whole, was immortalized in the studio a few years later to mark the 30th anniversary, with Gill releasing an updated version, his voice layered over all original tracks.
“The last thirty years I’ve always felt like something was missing from this song,” Gill explained previously, per the release, adding, “With this new third verse I finally feel like the song is complete.”
In the added verse, he sings, “You’re safely home in the arms of Jesus/ Eternal life my brother’s found/The day will come I know I’ll see him/In that sacred place, on that holy ground.”
As Parade previously reported, fans will be able to hear the updated and moving ballad at the upcoming 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Gill will be joined by country superstar Lainey Wilsonfor the performance during theIn Memoriam segment, an ideal setting for a song that comforted many through the emotions of grief.
The 2025 Emmys will air live on Sunday, Sept. 14, on CBS and Paramount +.
As for Gill, he’s fresh off a triumphant chapter in his career, wrapping a 30+ city tour that included five sold-out nights at the historic Ryman. He previously achieved mainstream success with his 1990 breakthrough “When I Call Your Name,” while a member of several iconic bands, including Pure Prairie League, The Notorious Cherry Bombs, The Time Jumpers, and Eagles.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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