The country music world is a small one. As a result, many artists become friends over the years. 

For instance, Vince Gill and the late Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joe Bonsall formed a friendship that lasted more than four decades. 

So, when Gill took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry last night (July 10), his friend was on his mind. This is why he used his three-song set to pay tribute to Bonsall.

Last night’s Grand Ole Opry lineup was full of high-energy performances. 49 Winchester, Wyatt Flores, and many more stepped into the Circle. 

However, when Gill took the stage, the energy in the room shifted. 

He treated those seated in the Opry House’s pews to a three-song tribute to one of the brightest voices the genre has ever heard.

Vince Gill started his set with a few words about Joe Bonsall and their friendship. 

Then, he performed the Rodney Crowell-penned Oak Ridge Boys classic “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.” 

However, no tribute to a member of the Oaks would be complete without covering their biggest hit, “Elvira.”

Bonsall sang lead on the No. 1 hit from 1981 and it went on to become the group’s biggest hit and signature song. Watch Gill lead the Opry crowd in a spirited singalong of the classic below.

Things got a little heavier as Gill closed out his three-song outing with a cut from his catalog. He has the perfect tribute to a lost loved one in his back pocket at all times and pulled it out in honor of his late friend. As photos of Bonsall and other members of the Oak Ridge Boys appeared on the Opry House’s big screens, Gill sang “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”

The emotion was plain in Gill’s voice as he sang the touching hit for his late pal. At the same time, there were likely very few dry eyes in the Opry House as he brought the song to a close.

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Source: USA Today