I am remembering the Christmas in Washington special! In December 1997, Aaliyah and gospel legend Shirley Caesar both performed at the televised holiday event held at the National Building Museum, singing in front of President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.
At the grand finale of the show, Aaliyah, Shirley Caesar, and all the other guest artists took the stage together to perform "O Come, All Ye Faithful".Some writers and media news people only remember the scandal and abuse stories about Aaliyah. But Aaliyah was more than that to me. Aaliyah was special, and I’m sure the people she began to sing on stage with knew.
Today, Pastor Shirley Caesar is singing and having conversation with children in her gospel song “We Love Our Children”(also titled "Pastor Shirley Caesar Talks to the Youth (We Love Our Children)"). It is a powerful spoken-word gospel song focusing on guiding the younger generation through societal pressures, crime, and spiritual struggles.
“America my heart is greed. I think about how our country has taken a turn for the worst. Crimes, drugs, ……”
Shirley Caesar’s career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "First Lady of Gospel Music" and "The Queen of Gospel Music"
