Considering that the nation is reeling in the wake of the deadly Las Vegas, New York and Texas attacks, the 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night, at moments, took a reflective and faith-driven tone.
The show opened, in part, with country music star Eric Church singing “Amazing Grace” and reflecting on the lives lost during the horrific Las Vegas shooting that unfolded on Oct. 1, AoL Entertainment reported.
The song started out with Church singing a moving rendition of the popular hymn before Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and other stars jumped in to perform Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Hold My Hand.”
Watch it all unfold below:
The touching opening number was followed by hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley remembering the lives lost in Las Vegas and during recent hurricanes, Fox News reported.
“This has been a year marked by tragedy… including so many in our country music family,” Underwood said of the 58 country music fans who were killed in Las Vegas. “So tonight, we’re going to do what families do come together, pray together. Cry together and sing together, too.”
Paisley, speaking directly to fans who were lost, added, “We love you and we will never forget you.”
Later, Underwood also invoked Jesus as she performed her own tribute and showed photos of the lives of those lost in Las Vegas. Wearing a white dress, she sang the hymn “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” while the audience surrounded her and held candles.
Moving tribute from @carrieunderwood and @CountryMusic Association to those lost in Las Vegas on October 1st. Rest in peace…#CMAawards pic.twitter.com/FwhautLfVe
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 9, 2017
"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling," Thank you, @CarrieUnderwood, for this moving tribute to the beautiful souls we've lost this year, including the 58 victims of the #LasVegas shooting. pic.twitter.com/AsE1DxHJCI
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 9, 2017
A truly moving performance.