Vince Gill is a country singer with an impressive resume; boasting the most Grammy Awards ever won by a male country music singer and more than 20 albums to his name.
Gill who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, first came to our attention as a member of country rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979.
Four decades later he is a much-loved and much in demand performer who was invited to sing on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage alongside the band Little Big Town.
But bosses told him he could perform on one condition — he didn’t sing about Jesus.
So how could anyone deny this talented, brilliant artist the right to sing the song he wanted at a performance?
His response caused the crowd to jump to their feet.
Gill, who was born in Oklahoma in 1957, became a solo artist in the ’80s. In recent years the devout christian has incorporated more gospel music into his appearances.
Recently he was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville Tennessee, a weekly country music stage concert which has been going since 1925.
But bosses said he could perform as long as he didn’t do any religious songs, namely about Jesus.
Gill could have adhered to this instruction ignoring his instinct to want to sing about his faith. But instead he did something different.He ignored these rules and instead sang “Why Me Lord,” a powerful song written and recorded by American country music artist and gospel singer Kris Kristofferson in 1972.
Since, the song has been performed by musical greats such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
Gill’s performance resulted in a standing ovation showing that nobody else really cared what the song was about but how moving the performance was.
See a clip of him performing in the video below.
Gill’s decision to perform a song true to his faith and musical style is truly brave, and not everyone would have had the guts to defy orders this way.
Then again, when you’re in the Country Music Hall of Fame, you get to make your own rules sometimes!
What do you think of his performance? Feel free to comment on our Facebook page and don’t forget to share with your friends and family.
A TV presenter with a Māori face tattoo fires back at cruel trolls.
Reiterating her pride in her cultural heritage and identity, a TV hostess with a customary Māori face tattoo gracefully responded to trolling remarks.
These pictures often start online debates about facial tattoos. Some people accept the cultural significance of these motifs, while others think tattoos should only be placed to the body.
Oriini Kaipara, 41, is a trailblazing TV presenter who made history at Newshub in New Zealand when she began her career as a newsreader. She was the first to present a primetime TV news report while donning the traditional Māori women’s marking, the moko kauae.
Moko kauae are vitally significant symbols of Māori history and identity, as they are considered by the native Polynesian population of the mainland of New Zealand. These facial tattoos, which are typically applied to the lips and chins, honor a woman’s heritage, status, and skills while also denoting her leadership in her community and within her family.
However, in the midst of all the appreciation, Newshub received an email from a viewer named David who was unhappy with Kaipara’s moko kauae.
He responded, “We continue to object strongly to you using a Māori newsreader with a moku [moko], which is offensive and aggressive looking,” as reported by the Daily Mail.A nasty look. She also speaks incoherently in our non-English tongue, Māori. Now put an end to it.
Kaipara boldly addressed the issue head-on in spite of David’s disparaging remarks, sharing images of the messages on her Instagram story and responding in a refined and polite way.
“Today, I’d had enough.” I responded. I never behave like that. She posted a picture of David’s message to Instagram with the remark, “I hit the send button and broke my own code.”
Furthermore, Kaipara made public the email discussion she had with David in which she said she couldn’t take David’s complaint seriously “given there is no breach of broadcast standards.”
She also made an effort to correct his spelling of “moko,” as David had referred to hers as “moku.”
Kaipara stated in her email, “I understand your complaints originate from a place of preference on how one must look on-screen.” This kind of intolerance, harassment, or prejudice is not warranted for Moko and others around her; they are not dangerous.
“We don’t intend to cause harm or have any bad intentions, and neither do we/I deserve to be treated with such disregard,” she continued. “Please stop complaining and wait until a later time, preferably the 1800s, to express your cultural ignorance and bias.”
Kaipara swiftly stressed that most of her comments are pleasant and that ugly trolls are uncommon, even in the wake of David’s negative remarks.
Shortly after responding to David’s complaint, Kaipara spoke with the New Zealand Herald about the need for more Māori activists. “The fact that some people find my existence upsetting is evidence of the need for more Māori advocates in important positions throughout every sector,” she stated.
All things considered, Kaipara’s cool response serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of cultural pride and resilience in the face of adversity. She is also inspiring people to embrace their identities with courage and speak out against discrimination.
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