A song that can lift your spirits and pierces through your heart, that’s what Alan Jackson’s song “How Great Thou Art” can do to you. His breathtaking performance clearly shows his deeply rooted faith in God and can influence the unbelievers. And with a classic gospel hymn, the country music legend knows how to express his love for Him.
An Iconic Hymn
We bet you have already heard “How Great Thou Art” in your church. Whether you’re a Christian or belong to another religion, it doesn’t change how this hymn lets you feel the love of God. Also, it enables you to praise Him for all He does.
Do you know that this hymn was originally written as a poem? The inspiration for it came to Carl Boberg, the original writer, in 1885 while walking home from church. He lives in Kronobäck, Sweden, and the church bells rang in the background. A sudden storm was forming over Mönsterås Bay, and then just as it made its appearance, it suddenly subsided, leaving a peaceful calm. When the storm was over, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
The poem matched an old Swedish folk tune and, for the first time, was sung in the Swedish public province of Värmland in 1888. As it is iconic, multiple country music artists have their own renditions. One of them was a country legend, Alan Jackson.
Notable Rendition
It’s no surprise that the hymn “How Great Thou Art” is included in Alan Jackson’s gospel songs. The said hymn also ranked second on the list of all-time favorite hymns in a Christianity Today magazine survey in 2001. Jackson may have known this, and it doesn’t make sense to create a gospel album without it. The country singer has even sung each verse to heart during his astounding performance.
The country music artist offered a modern makeover to this classic gospel song. With an acoustic guitar, Jackson gave an unforgettable performance in his concert at the Ryman Auditorium. His rendition emphasized how powerful God is and that nothing is impossible with Him.
Now it’s time for you to go ahead and listen to Alan Jackson’s “How Great Thou Art” breathtaking performance.