--- 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: 2026-05-11T05:02:45.595Z 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. Clementa Pinckney og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Watch President Obama Sing "Amazing Grace" at Slain Pastor's Funeral twitter:description: The commander-in-chief led the crowd in a passionate rendition of the traditional favorite twitter: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 ---  # Watch President Obama Sing 'Amazing Grace' at Slain Pastor's Funeral > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Jun 26, 2015 7:54 PM UTC  CHARLESTON, SC - JUNE 26: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney during Pinckney's funeral service June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting in the church, which is one of the nation's oldest black churches in Charleston. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) CHARLESTON, SC - JUNE 26: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney during Pinckney's funeral service June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting in the church, which is one of the nation's oldest black churches in Charleston. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle—Getty Images 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. 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