Beyoncé gives a behind-the-scenes focus of what goes on when she’s rehearsing for the Grammys. The touching performance of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” brought the audience to their feet – along with Common and John Legend’s “Glory” performance – and now, King Bey gives her reasoning for the selection as well as where she first heard the song.
Check it out after the jump.
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Her back-up performers get a chance to speak and Beyoncé adds her point of view on the glorious track. “The first time I heard Precious Lord, I was a kid, and my mother sang it to me,” says King Bey. “My mother played me Mahalia Jackson’s version and … she sang the song with her eyes closed. She was a vessel, and it was like God speaking using her body.”
Relive the performance below.
FACT: Singer Ledisi was actually suppose to perform this song on the Grammy’s however at the last minute they pulled her out. “What I’m excited about is that I had the pleasure of playing an iconic figure in Selma, and the song, “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” it’s been going on forever — starting with the queen Mahalia [Jackson], the queen of soul Aretha Franklin,” Ledisi said to Entertainment Tonight when asked why she was pulled. “Then, I was able to portray and sing my version of the song, and now we have Beyoncé. Her generation will now know the song, so I’m a part of history,” she adds. Classy response.
Check out the gallery for more behind-the-scenes images.