The Story Behind “How Great Thou Art”

Some songs never fade. They do not just fill a room — they move people. One of the most powerful examples is the timeless hymn “How Great Thou Art.”

Whether it is heard in church, at a wedding, during a tribute, or in a quiet personal moment, this hymn has a way of connecting generations through faith, memory, and emotion.

Where It All Began

The story starts in 1885, when Swedish preacher and poet Carl Boberg wrote the poem “O Store Gud” after being caught in a dramatic thunderstorm that suddenly cleared. The beauty and power of that moment inspired the words that would eventually become one of the most loved hymns in the world.

The English version most people know today was completed in 1949 by British missionary Stuart K. Hine. From there, the hymn spread around the world and became especially well known through Billy Graham crusades, where George Beverly Shea helped introduce it to massive audiences.

More Than a Hymn — A Global Standard

“How Great Thou Art” has more than 1,700 documented recordings and has been called a favorite hymn by generations of listeners. It has also ranked among the most loved hymns in public polls and church music surveys.

20+ Notable Versions of “How Great Thou Art”

1885 — Carl Boberg: Original Swedish poem “O Store Gud”, the foundation of the hymn as we know it today.
1949 — Stuart K. Hine: Completed the influential English version, which became the standard text used across the English-speaking world.
1954–1955 — J. Edwin Orr / Manna Music era: Helped bring the hymn into wider American use through conferences and publication.
1955–1957 — George Beverly Shea: Popularized the hymn through Billy Graham crusades; his recording became one of the best-known early modern versions.
1967 — Elvis Presley: Studio recording on the album How Great Thou Art. This version won the GRAMMY for Best Sacred Performance. The album also became a major commercial success, later reaching multi-platinum status.
1969 — George Beverly Shea: Released on the album How Great Thou Art, helping cement the hymn’s place in gospel music.
1969 — The Statler Brothers: Included their version on Oh Happy Day, bringing the hymn into their country-gospel catalog.
1974 — Elvis Presley (Live in Memphis): His live version earned another GRAMMY, this time for Best Inspirational Performance (Non-Classical).
1982 — Howard Morrison / “Whakaaria Mai”: The Māori-language adaptation tied to the same melody spent five weeks at No. 1 in New Zealand and became a major part of New Zealand musical culture.
1990 — Vince Gill & Amy Grant: A polished country-Christian duet version that helped keep the hymn active in contemporary faith-based music.
2003 — CeCe Winans: Recorded a version in the early 2000s, and later also popularized a “How Great Is Our God / How Great Thou Art” medley in worship music circles.
2006 — Alan Jackson: Released his version on Precious Memories, one of the defining mainstream-country gospel albums of the 2000s.
2008 — Grand Ole Opry cast version: Featured on How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites Live From the Grand Ole Opry, showing the hymn’s continued importance in country gospel performance.
2009 — Susan Boyle: Included the hymn on I Dreamed a Dream, which became the world’s biggest-selling album of 2009. Official Charts later listed “How Great Thou Art” among her 10 biggest covers.
2011 — Carrie Underwood & Vince Gill (live TV performance): Their performance drew a standing ovation. The release hit No. 1 on iTunes Top Gospel Songs, reached the Top 40 on iTunes all-genre, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard Christian Digital Songs, and had sold 599,000 digital copies in the U.S. by late 2014.
2015 — Koryn Hawthorne: Her performance of the hymn became her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.
2016 — Joey + Rory: Included on their album Hymns, offering a stripped-down country-gospel take.
2016 — Home Free: Released an a cappella version that became one of the group’s best-known faith-based performances; the official video has drawn tens of millions of views.
2017 — Pentatonix feat. Jennifer Hudson: Released on A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe; the official video also reached millions of views and introduced the hymn to a wider pop/holiday audience.
2020 — Peter Hollens with collaborators: Released a modern vocal arrangement that helped keep the hymn visible in online choral and crossover spaces.
2022 — Reba McEntire: Included her version on My Chains Are Gone, another example of the hymn’s lasting place in country-gospel recording.
2024 — “How Great Thou Art (Until That Day)”: A 75th-anniversary collaborative recording featuring artists including Chris Tomlin, Hillary Scott, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Matt Redman, Naomi Raine, Blessing Offor, Jon Reddick, TAYA, Brian and Jenn Johnson, Matt Maher, Pat Barrett, Benjamin William Hastings, Ryan Ellis, and Mitch Wong. This new version was created in part to support humanitarian relief and rebuilding efforts in Ukraine.

Elvis Presley How Great Thou Art Album Cover 1967

1967 — Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley’s version of “How Great Thou Art” is one of the most iconic recordings of the hymn.
Released on his 1967 gospel album, the song earned Elvis his first Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance.

The album marked a major moment in his career, reaching the Billboard charts and later achieving multi-platinum success, while helping bring the hymn into mainstream music culture.

His live performances later earned additional Grammy recognition, solidifying this version as the most decorated and influential recording of the hymn.

Why It Still Connects Today

Part of what makes “How Great Thou Art” so powerful is that it works in almost any setting. It can feel intimate in a church, emotional at a memorial, reverent during a wedding ceremony, and unforgettable in a live performance setting. That is why so many artists across gospel, country, worship, and even pop crossover styles keep coming back to it.

Planning a Wedding or Event in West Michigan or the Midwest?

I provide expert DJ and MC services across West Michigan and the entire Midwest, from Grand Rapids to the Lakeshore to Chicago, Detroit, and beyond. Focus on your guests while I handle the event audio, timeline, and pack the dance floor.

7+ Years of Wedding DJ Experience / Event MC in the Greater Grand Rapids Area

Book DJ Noah French

Final Thoughts

From a Swedish poem in 1885 to GRAMMY-winning recordings, charting modern renditions, and global worship collaborations, “How Great Thou Art” has done something very few songs ever do — it keeps finding new life in every generation.

That is the mark of a truly timeless song.