A voice that stirs the soul — Reba McEntire tenderly honors Easter with her angelic rendition of “Because He Lives,” melting hearts and moving listeners to tears. The emotional performance is now an essential holiday anthem, spreading faith and comfort as fans across the country add it to their playlists.

The country star’s cover of the beloved hymn is downright heavenly.

As Easter weekend approaches, there’s no better time to revisit Reba McEntire’s angelic rendition of the beloved hymn “Because He Lives.” The country music icon and Happy’s Place star delivered a powerful performance of the song in 2021, later sharing a highlight from the set to her official YouTube channel in honor of the Easter holiday.

Watch Happyâs Place on NBC and Peacock.

As soon as McEntire took the stage and stood aside the piano, it was clear her performance of “Because He Lives” would be a grand slam as she began the song with mesmerizing grace. The stripped-down nature of the performance allowed McEntire’s soulful vocals to steal the spotlight as McEntire navigated the elegant arrangement. McEntire carried each note with reverence as she injected warmth and joy into each verse. McEntire didn’t just deliver a performance; she gave a larger-than-life sermon that stuck true to her country roots.

In 2024, McEntire shared the throwback performance video alongside the sweet message, “Happy Easter! I hope you have a beautiful celebration with family and friends.”

What to know about “Because He Lives”

“Because He Lives” was penned in 1971 by the married country artist duo Bill and Gloria Gaither, who recorded many cherished gospel tracks during their career. The couple wrote the song after Gloria became pregnant during a period of social and political turmoil. As they fret over Bill’s health problems and uncertainty about bringing a kid into a chaotic world, the Gaithers found solace in comparing their plight to the Resurrection.

“It was on New Year’s Eve that I sat alone in the darkness and quiet of our living room, thinking about the world and our country and Bill’s discouragement and the family problems – and about our baby yet unborn,” Gloria recalled (via FWB). “‘Who in their right mind would bring a child into a world like this?’ I thought… I can’t quite explain what happened at that moment, but suddenly, I felt released from it all… Gradually, the fear left, and the joy began to return.”

Over the past few decades, “Because He Lives” has become a staple in churches worldwide and covered by numerous artists across genres, McEntire included. The country legend’s performance of “Because He Lives” not only honored the hymn’s rich history but also served as a touching holiday message to her fans.

Reba McEntire’s dedication to her faith

Reba McEntire attends the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. Photo: Omar Vega/WireImage
McEntire is no stranger to a spiritual hymn — she actually credits her Christian faith for helping her become the country legend she is today.

“It’s all God; He’s the reason for everything I do,” McEntire told Christian Post in 2019. “I pray that I will find songs to record that will touch people’s hearts and heal their hearts. Before I go on stage, I ask the Holy Spirit to touch people in the audience if they need healing or comfort.”

While serving as a Coach on Season 25 of The Voice, McEntire explained that she feels blessed by her relationship with fans, a connection she thanks the man upstairs for creating. “God gave the songwriters that gift, and if there’s something in songs that can come out of my mouth and touch a person and heal their heart, it’s all worth it to me,” McEntire said. “Music has allowed me to do wonderful things God intended for the people who are listening.”