Barack Obama sang Amazing Grace during Charleston shooting eulogy

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President Barack Obama stirred raucous emotion in Charleston when he sang Amazing Grace
He was giving eulogy to gun massacre victim Rev Clementa Pinckney
Congregation rose to their feet, singing, cheering, shouting 'Amen!'
Adviser Valerie Jarrett said she and Michelle weren't convinced by the idea
But Obama said he was sure the church would sing with him if he did

Published: 13:49 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 15:08 EST, 7 July 2015

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It was arguably one of the most powerful moments of his presidency.

But moments before Obama sang Amazing Grace during the eulogy for Rev Clementa Pinckney, one of the the nine Charleston victims, his wife Michelle and long-time adviser Valerie Jarrett were unconvinced by the idea.

According to Jarrett, he turned to them before addressing a Charleston church last month, and said: 'I don’t know whether I’m going to do it, but I just wanted to warn you two that I might sing. We’ll see how it feels at the time. I think if I sing, the church will sing with me.'

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'I think if I sing, the church will sing with me': President Obama waited until the last minute to explain to Michelle and Valerie Jarrett that he planned to sing Amazing Grace at Rev Clementa Pinckney's funeral

Obama sings Amazing Grace after eulogy to Rev Pinckney

The First Lady was blunt. 'Why on earth would that fit in?' Mrs Obama replied, according to Jarrett.

But the president stuck to his resolve, and it paid off with the congregation rising to their feet, singing, cheering and shouting 'Amen!'

'From the first time he started to speak, the church was clearly with him,' Jarrett admitted. 'He knew they were with him.'

When he came off stage, Jarrett remarked that he had paused before singing, and asked him: 'Were you thinking about whether or not you were going to sing?'

He responded: 'Oh no, I knew I was going to sing, I was just trying to figure out what key to sing in.'

Jarrett's words came in a talk at the Aspen Ideas Festival last week, in which she addressed Obama's history of singing during speeches.

She recalled fondly the surprised reaction when he gave a short rendition of Al Green's Let's Stay Together in January 2012.

Backstage in 2012 Jarrett had said to him, 'Don't sing! Please whatever you do don't sing!'

Valerie Jarrett explains the story behind Obama's singing

The story behind it: Long-time adviser Valerie Jarrett said he paused so he could decide what key to sing in

'The church was clearly with him': Jarrett (left) explained how impressed she was with Obama's instinct but before he went on, she and First Lady Michelle (center) were not certain the song would be well-received

But then, as in June 2015, he went ahead, and the moment became a YouTube hit.

Addressing a fundraising event, he said: 'And to think, Reverend Al Green was here!' then tentatively sang: 'I... am so in love with you...' to screams from the audience.

He then pointed triumphantly off-stage - to Michelle and Jareett - and said: 'Those guys didn't think I would do it! I told you I was going to do it!'

Jarrett told the Aspen crowd: 'I think people didn't know he had such a good voice.'

Obama sings Al Green's Let's Stay Together at 2012 fundraiser