Carrie Underwood’s Easter Performance of “Nothing But the Blood” Turned the Ryman Into a Church

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As sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows of the Ryman Auditorium on Easter Sunday 2021, Carrie Underwood didn’t just take the stage — she led a moment of worship. Standing under the glow of Nashville’s “Mother Church,” the country superstar delivered a reverent rendition of “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” transforming a concert into a sacred gathering.

The performance was part of her Easter livestream event tied to her first gospel album, My Savior. Underwood said the project was born from a desire to “bring these uplifting, inspirational songs to people” during a difficult time. “This music shaped me as a person and as an artist,” she said in a statement. These are the songs I grew up singing.”

Backed by a small band and joined by Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE, Underwood performed the 19th-century hymn with restraint and tenderness. There were no theatrics, no spotlight-chasing vocal runs. Instead, she let the lyrics carry the weight: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

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Rinehart’s earthy harmonies added just the right contrast to her soaring vocals, creating a duet that sounded more like a prayer than a performance. The simplicity of the arrangement—no elaborate lighting, no arena-sized effects—allowed the spiritual power of the song to shine through.

Fans watching from home, many still distanced from church during the pandemic, responded with emotion. Comments flooded social media with gratitude for a performance that felt, as one user put it, “more like a Sunday service than a concert.” Carrie’s voice filled the gap for those who couldn’t be with family or attend in-person worship.

“Nothing But the Blood” has long been a staple of Southern gospel, recorded by legends like Randy Travis, whom Carrie has called one of her heroes. Her version honored that tradition but added something fresh: a gentleness and clarity that made the message resonate in a modern world.

Music and books

Shop Carrie Underwood

• Greatest Hits: Decade #1VinylWith “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel”See it on Amazon →
• My GiftVinylHer Christmas albumSee it on Amazon →
• Find Your PathBook · 2020Her guide to health, fitness and the Fit52 lifestyleSee it on Amazon →

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And that’s the quiet power of Carrie Underwood. She’s a chart-topper, yes, but she’s also one of the few mainstream artists who still lets her faith take center stage—without apology and without needing it to be trendy.

At the Ryman, she reminded us that sometimes, the most powerful message is the oldest one. And all it takes is one voice, one hymn, and one honest moment to make a church out of any room.