--- title: Obama Sings "Amazing Grace" During Funeral of Clementa Pinckney description: The commander-in-chief displayed his musical talents at the conclusion of his moving remarks. canonical: https://time.com/3938544/amazing-grace-obama-funeral/ author: Eric Dodds article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-06-26T19:54:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:23:12.175Z article:section: Politics og:title: Watch President Obama Sing "Amazing Grace" at Slain Pastor's Funeral og:description: The commander-in-chief led the crowd in a passionate rendition of the traditional favorite og:url: https://time.com/3938544/amazing-grace-obama-funeral/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt032f07b857b0d8d8/698858b9cd1bba88cf6fc069/obama-amazing-grace.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3756 og:image:height: 2113 og:image:alt: President Obama Joins Mourners At Funeral Of Rev. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=65d0ee39-cc37-4349-861d-83f555db5f4f&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch President Obama Sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at Slain Pastor’s Funeral [Watch (HLS stream): Watch President Obama Sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at Slain Pastor’s Funeral](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/iyU9zc83.m3u8) (2:11)  _Published 2015-06-26. Obama Amazing Grace_ by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Jun 26, 2015 7:54 PM UTC by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Jun 26, 2015 7:54 PM UTC Near the end of his eulogy for the Rev. Clementa Pinckney—one of the nine victims of last week’s fatal church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina—President Obama led the congregation and those assembled in a rendition of “Amazing Grace.” > [](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/614515464383918082) Obama also called the late pastor a “man of God who lived by faith.” ### See the Funeral Service of Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston  Doris Simmons, of Charleston, stands across the street from Emanuel AME Church, the scene of last week's mass shooting, as the sun rises in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. David Goldman—AP  Women dressed in white wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney outside Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Members of the clergy wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  People wait in line to enter the funeral service Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  People watch as the hearse carrying Rev. Clementa Pinckney passes by as they line up to enter the College of Charleston TD Arena where his funeral service will be held in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Joe Raedle—Getty Images  Members of the clergy wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Mourners attend the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney at College of Charleston TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Joe Raedle—Getty Images  President Barack Obama sings Amazing Grace during the eulogy at the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney at the TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Richard Ellis—EPA  The wife of Rev. Clementa Pickney, Jennifer, stands with their daughters Malana and Eliana before President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy during the funeral of Clementa Pickney, at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] A wretch like me. I once was [ MUSIC ] Clementa Pinckney found that grace. Cynthia Hurd found that grace. Susie Jackson found that grace. [ INAUDIBLE ] found that grace. The pain Middleton doctor found that grace. [ INAUDIBLE ] found that grace. Daniel Elf Simmons Senior found that grace. Rhonda Coleman Singleton found that grace. Myra Thompson found that grace. [ MUSIC ] Through the example of their lives, they've now passed it on to us. May we find ourselves worthy of that precious and extraordinary gift as long as our lives endure. May grace now lead them home. May God continue to shed his grace, on the United States of America. 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