Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Perform Emotional Cover of ‘Imagine’ At President Jimmy Carter’s Funeral

The state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter featured a number of reverent tributes to the nation’s 39th commander-in-chief. But one of the most touching moments during Thursday morning’s (Jan. 9) event came when country couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed a moving cover of John Lennon’s 1971 homage to peace, “Imagine.”

Brooks played the song’s iconic melody on an acoustic guitar, singing, “Imagine there’s no heaven/ It’s easy if you try/ No hell below us/ Above us, only sky,” his voice echoing through the majestic 188-year-old Washington National Cathedral, which has hosted the funeral and memorial services for almost all of the 21 Presidents who’ve died since Congress approved its charter in 1893.

The deliberate pace of the performance — and the addition of a piano accompaniment — appeared to move many of the dignitaries on hand, which included all the former living Presidents. Soon-to-be-ex-President Joe Biden bowed his head at one point as his successor, former President Donald Trump seemed to close his eyes briefly during the performance.

“You may say I’m a dreamer/ But I’m not the only one,” Brooks sang as wife Yearwood joined in, matching his vocals on the lines, “I hope someday you’ll join us/ And the world will live as one.” That final line was delivered as the couple looked into each other’s eyes and held the moment for a beat, with Brooks leaning in to give Yearwood a kiss on the cheek.

The choice of the song — which was one of three-time Grammy winner Carter’s favorites — was an interesting one, given the late 39th President’s deep faith. Carter taught Sunday school in his native Plains, GA nearly every weekend after leaving the White House in 1981 and often spoke of the importance of religion in his life. In contrast, Lennon’s song features the lines “Imagine there’s no countries/ It isn’t hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion, too.”

The song’s messages of peace, unity and “no need for greed or hunger,” and the dream of a “brotherhood of man,” however, more closely mirror Carter’s humanitarian post-White House efforts, which included building houses with Habitat for Humanity, and a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights around the world.

The performance was one of the first public appearances by Brooks and Yearwood — who often joined Carter on his Habitat For Humanity efforts — since an anonymous woman filed sexual assault charges against Brooks in October, accusing him of sexual battery, assault and battery; Brooks has adamantly denied the claims.

Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at age 100, was the longest-lived President in U.S. history and the first to live to the century mark. In addition to Biden and Trump — as well as their wives, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Melania Trump — the funeral was attended by former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and George W. and Laura Bush, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff; CNN reported that former First Lady Michelle Obama was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

In addition to the Brooks/Yearwood performance and a number of other moving tributes from Carter’s family, the funeral included a eulogy by Biden, who is less than two weeks away from the end of his term, after which he will be replaced by twice-impeached former President Trump.

The President repeatedly hailed Carter’s deep faith and strong moral outlook, noting that he was likely the first Senator to endorse Carter’s long-shot 1976 candidacy, “based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character, character, character.” Biden added, “Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life, taught me, that strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. It’s the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot.”

After the funeral, Carter’s body will be flown back to Georgia for a private family funeral before he is buried on the grounds of his home in Plains next to his late wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter.

Watch footage of the “Imagine” performance below.