Jennifer Nettles took the stage at Ground Zero to perform Vince Gill’s country ballad “Go Rest High on That Mountain” during the 25th-anniversary September 11 commemoration. Held in Lower Manhattan, the official memorial ceremony honored the thousands of people who lost their lives and offered support to their families. Nettles performed the familiar elegy to honor the victims and offer comfort to survivors and loved ones gathered at the memorial plaza.
Gill began writing the song in 1989 following the death of fellow country singer Keith Whitley but set the unfinished lyrics aside for years. He completed it after his brother, Bob, died in 1993. Although written long before the 2001 attacks, the song has since become an anthem of solace and mourning.
The performance was part of the ceremony’s family-centered program. Throughout the morning, relatives read aloud the names of the 2,983 victims killed in the 2001 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The commemoration also included seven moments of silence. Six corresponded to key moments in the attacks, while a newly established seventh honored those who later died from 9/11-related illnesses or injuries. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus were also announced as featured musical participants.
Nettles is best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning country duo Sugarland. She also established herself as a songwriter and performer through the hit single “Stay,” which she wrote entirely on her own. Her vocal background and grounding in American roots music have earned her industry acclaim and a dedicated following. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma provides a poignant musical tribute during the Ground Zero memorial observances.
Gill’s composition has held a prominent place in country music since its commercial release in 1995. The song earned two Grammy Awards in 1996 for Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance, as well as the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year trophy. The Library of Congress selected the track for the National Recording Registry in 2026.
Following the observance, Nettles reflected on the responsibility of singing Gill’s composition, saying that she took the stage with his personal blessing. She was joined by musicians Emily Fink, Naomi Serrano and Adam Rothenberg. Nettles said the performance was intended to offer comfort to the families gathered to remember their loved ones. Speaking about music’s role during periods of grief, she said that “the voice is sacredly situated between the head and the heart.” We will never forget those who lost their lives during the September 11 attacks – RIP.