The Oak Ridge Boys Honor Joe Bonsall With ‘Promised Land’ Video [WATCH]

The Oak Ridge Boys are honoring the late Joe Bonsall with their new video, out now. The four-man group just released a video of “Promised Land,” a song Bonsall sang the vocal on, and was included on their 2021 Front Porch Singin’ album.

“Promised Land,” written by Ashley Monroe, was a departure for The Oak Ridge Boys, with Bonsall singing almost the entire song by himself, and the other three members joining in at the very end.

“‘Promised Land’ is a great example of Joe Bonsall’s ability to capture the message of a great song and communicate that message to the listener,” Richard Sterban tells People. “His performance is unforgettable.”

Bonsall, a member of The Oak Ridge Boys for 50 years, passed away on July 9, 2024, after a lengthy battle with ALS. In spite of his illness, Bonsall kept performing for a few years, announcing in January that he was retiring from touring due to an unspecified neuromuscular disorder. Front Porch Singin’ was produced by Dave Cobb, who the band members now believe was divinely inspired to feature mostly Bonsall on the spiritual song.

“Joe Bonsall’s haunting performance seems pre-destined,” William Lee Golden, who tragically lost his son, Rusty Golden, a week before Bonsall, says. “Dave Cobb has a unique ability to pair the right songs with the right vocals. ‘Promised Land’ is another Joe Bonsall-treasured masterpiece.”

Bonsall was replaced at the start of the year by Ben James, who humbly filled the big shoes left for him by Bonsall.

“[The video] is so very moving,” James boasts. “It makes me smile to think that Joe is now with the one he loved to sing about. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — nobody can get the message of a song across like Joe Bonsall.”

The new video begins with Bonsall singing a clip of the song.

“Beautiful song, ‘Promised Land,'” Bonsall says. “He promises us eternity. He promises us a better place. It’s a beautiful, beautiful gospel song that Dave Cobb insisted we sing, and he insisted that I sing it. It was a blessing to sing the song.”

Photo byCourtesy of 2911 Entertainment

After Bonsall passed away, The Oak Ridge Boys praised the talented singer, and his impact on the remaining members.

“When I look at Joe Bonsall’s life, I see a life fulfilled,” Duane says. “The son of two military veterans, raised to become street-smart in the hood-influenced neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents taught him that he could be anything he wished to be if he worked hard, told the truth, and trusted in God.

“Joe could do anything he set his mind to do, but what impressed me the most was the energy, love, and compassion he put into everything he did and his unique gift to communicate those emotions and feelings into every performance, song, and book,” he continues. “Joe was ‘that’ best friend that every person hopes to have in his life.”

Bonsall’s family requested that donations be made to The ALS Association, Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center, or Alive Hospice, where Bonsall received care.

Photo byCourtesy of 2911 Entertainment