George W. Bush wants iconic Sister Act 2 song played at his funeral

Former US President George W. Bush’s daughter Jenna Bush Hager has revealed he wants Oh Happy Day played at his funeral.

George W. Bush wants Oh Happy Day played at his funeral.

The former US President’s daughter Jenna Bush Hager shared her 79-year-old dad’s choice of track – which comes from 1993’s Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit – as she and Savannah Guthrie shared their “funeral song” on the Monday morning (22.12.25) episode of Today with Jenna and Friends.

Savannah asked Jenna: “This is a little morbid, but have you ever thought about a song you want played at your funeral? I have! [It’s] Take It to the Limit by The Eagles. I love that song so much. That’s my funeral song.”

Jenna then revealed: “My dad has always had a funeral song, and it used to be [John Fogerty’s Centerfield]. ‘Put me in coach, I’m ready to… ‘ But now it’s Oh Happy Day. He wants that.”

Gospel song Oh Happy Day – which is a celebration of hope, faith and collectiveness – became popular after it was released by The Edwin Hawkins Singers in 1968.

However, some people know it best from a memorable scene in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, where Whoopi Goldberg’s character, Deloris Van Cartier – a Vegas singer disguised as nun Sister Mary Clarence – gets the school choir to sing the song in front of an audience, with student Ahmal (Ryan Toby) stealing the show with his solo.

In 2024, Whoopi assembled many of the film’s cast to recreate the scene on The View to mark the film’s 30th anniversary.

As well as Ryan, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Monica Calhoun, Alex Martin, David Kater, Frank Odell Howard, Dionna Nichelle, Jermaine Montell, Tanya Trotter, DeeDee Magno Hall, Ashley Thompson and Deondray Gossfield took part.

Lauryn Hill, who played Rita Louise Watson, did not participate, but the cast sang Joyful, Joyful from the film, with singer Tanya Trotter filling in for her.

Also that year, Whoopi – who broke down in tears after the Joyful, Joyful reunion performance – promised Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit was coming “soon”.

She told Entertainment Tonight: “I can say it’s coming. It’s coming around the mountain when it comes. It’ll be here soon. I’m excited. It’s time for it, you know, it’s time.”