President Obama Leads Performance Of “Amazing Grace” In Honor Of Rev. Clementa Pinckney

President Barack Obama led a moving performance of “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed during the Charleston massacre, on Friday.

President Obama Sings “Amazing Grace”

Obama honored Rev. Pinckney at the TD Arena, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects. Pinckney was a state senator and also worked as a minister at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people were shot and killed last week.

President Obama delivered a 30-minute eulogy in honor of Pinckney, noting his many accomplishments and paying his respects to Pinckney and the eight other people who lost their lives in the shooting. Obama also took the opportunity to advocate for the removal of the Confederate flag from government buildings, saying, “By taking down that flag, we express God’s grace.”

Obama ended his moving eulogy by leading an emotional performance of the church hymn “Amazing Grace.” In a stunning moment, Obama broke into song, the first lines booming through the arena as others behind him and in the audience joined in.

The moment immediately went viral, and noted by many as the moving end to a long and eventful week.