Lainey Wilson Delivers Emotional “Amazing Grace” Tribute to 9/11 Victims

Lainey Wilson stepped onto a stage unlike any other on Sept. 11, delivering a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” beneath New York City’s iconic Tribute in Light as the nation marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The country star joined Cyndi Lauper and Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik for the televised special “9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan.” The event marked the first time in 25 years that the annual commemoration at the site of the former Twin Towers was broadcast live.

Wilson performed directly beneath the two illuminated beams that have become one of the most recognizable symbols of remembrance in New York.

Lainey Wilson Chooses “Amazing Grace”

Wilson selected the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” for the tribute, appearing in a black suit instead of her signature bell-bottoms and cowboy hat. Backed by a choir, she delivered the song as the two beams of light stretched into the night sky behind her.

The performance quickly drew an emotional response from viewers, with many taking to social media to praise Wilson’s rendition and say it brought them to tears.

The setting added another layer of significance. Since 2002, the Tribute in Light has illuminated the New York skyline every September 11. Its two white beams represent the Twin Towers, rising four miles into the sky and visible from as far as 60 miles away from Lower Manhattan.

For the 25th anniversary, Wilson’s performance took place at the base of those beams, where the memorial served as a backdrop to a night dedicated to remembering those lost.

Honoring Victims, First Responders and Families

Ahead of the performance, Wilson said she was honored to participate in a historic moment recognizing the first responders, families and communities whose lives were forever affected by the tragedy.

“The courage, bravery, and heroism displayed in response to 9/11 is a reminder of who we are as Americans and the strength and compassion we show one another at our most difficult moments,” Wilson said in a statement.

The 2026 special was produced in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and brought together performances and stories of remembrance for the 25th anniversary.

Alongside Wilson, Lauper and Ondrasik took part in the musical tribute, each performing beneath the same iconic beams in Lower Manhattan.

A Moment of Remembrance

Twenty-five years after the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives, the anniversary once again brought Americans together to remember the victims and reflect on the courage shown in the aftermath.

For Wilson, “Amazing Grace” offered a quiet and powerful way to honor that memory. Without the familiar country-star styling that audiences associate with her, she stood in a black suit with a choir behind her and allowed the hymn to carry the weight of the moment.

Her performance became one of the evening’s most emotional tributes, giving viewers another reason to pause, remember and reflect on the lives forever changed by September 11, 2001.

Watch Lainey Wilson’s moving performance of “Amazing Grace” below.