Vince Gill debuts two versions of his classic, poignant track “Go Rest High on That Mountain” on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart.
“Go Rest High on That Mountain (Extended Version)” bows at No. 5 on the list dated Sept. 27 with 2,000 downloads sold in the week ending Sept. 18, according to Luminate. The updated cut, which Gill performed with Lainey Wilson during the Sept. 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast on CBS, gives Gill his second-highest showing yet on the tally (which began in 2010), behind his collaboration with Maren Morris, “Dear Hate,” which led for a week in 2017.
Meanwhile, the original “Go Rest High on That Mountain” joins the new mix in the Country Digital Song Sales top 10 at No. 8, up 242% to 1,000 sold. Released in 1995, the track reached No. 14 that December on Hot Country Songs, where Gill boasts 28 top 10s, including five No. 1s.
The extended release coincides with the song’s 30th anniversary and introduces a third verse that Gill first shared live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in 2019. He began writing the track in 1989 following the death of country star Keith Whitley, completing it years later after the passing of Gill’s brother. The result was a career-defining ballad that went on to earn multiple Grammy Awards and one that has remained a cornerstone of his catalog.
While fans have heard the additional lyrics in concert over the past several years, the new version marks the first time they’ve been available in a studio recording. The release adds fresh perspective to a song that has endured as both a personal tribute and a country standard.
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