![]() |
Fred Hammond |
Blog
Shirley Caesar on Today’s ‘Singingest’ Women, Whitney, and the Big Screen
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
Ever since she was twelve years old, Pastor Shirley Caesar has been living and singing for Jesus. More than six decades later, the multi-award-winning petite powerhouse shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. To the thousands who follow her ministry, it seems she not only gets better with age, but more youthful. Pastor Caesar’s ageless beauty, high energy, and lightning quick moves across stages and pulpits all over the world are unparalleled, but it’s her unmistakable sound, unapologetic consistency and unwavering spiritual conviction that have catapulted her into a class all by herself.
Ever since she was twelve years old, Pastor Shirley Caesar has been living and singing for Jesus. More than six decades later, the multi-award winning petite powerhouse shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. To the thousands who follow her ministry, it seems she not only gets better with age, but more youthful. Pastor Caesar’s ageless beauty, high energy, and lightning quick moves across stages and pulpits all over the world are unparalleled, but it’s her unmistakable sound, unapologetic consistency and unwavering spiritual conviction that have catapulted her into a class all by herself.
The day I spoke with Pastor Caesar, she was prepping for a relatively light task among numerous undertakings: performing and guesting as co-ringmaster for the UniverSoul Circus in Raleigh, where she resides. She was also discussing plans for McDonald’s GospelFest 2012, at which she will perform Mother’s Day Weekend in Newark, NJ. This year’s theme is “Honor Thy Mother.” It is a theme that’s dear to Pastor Caesar’s heart, for she has always been very candid about her relationship with her own.
“I watched my mom,” Pastor Caesar told GospelFlava.com a few years ago. “She didn’t teach me by word. She taught me by actions. I watched Mama and I watched her feed other folks. I saw my mom give second hand clothes to others in the community. I learned giving and sharing and through that I learned what true ministry is.”
Certainly, Pastor Caesar’s regard for her mother is evident particularly because she has recorded more “mama” songs than any other gospel artist, including her personal musical tribute “I Remember Mama.” (“Don’t Drive Your Mama Away,” “Faded Rose,” “I Love You Mama,” “Everyday is Like Mother’s Day,” and the country-turned-gospel classic “No Charge” are also part of her mama-themed catalog.)
For “The First Lady of Gospel,” however, ministry is filled with encouragement, admonitions, and old-fashioned mother wit–not just concerning respect for the family matriarch, but for nearly all of life’s twists and turns. Her anointing to pack a song with power that transforms may very well be the reason she has collected eleven Grammys, something she considers to be her greatest accomplishment aside from salvation.

It was probably that very same quality the late Albertina Walker noticed when she invited a then-teenage Caesar (pictured at far left) to join the famous Caravans in 1958. By no means was Walker’s group short on talent, but it was young Shirley Caesar’s vim and vocals that helped them soar to new heights. Fast forward to 2012: if Pastor Caesar had the role of recruiting for an all-star lineup similar to the Caravans, who would she pick?
“Oh wow! Let me tell you, one of the singingest women I know is Yolanda Adams–I would pull her out there in a heartbeat,” she declares. “I like Kim Burrell. I like…now we’re talking gospel, right?”
“Right,” I clarify before appending a second thought, “or if you would like to pull someone from– ”
“Aretha Franklin!” she exclaims without hesitation. “Yes, yes, that’s my girl. And my goddaughter who now sleeps was Whitney Houston…oh an awesome young woman gone too soon.” Pastor Caesar pauses wistfully, but quickly resumes, “There are many other voices out there, and I would include myself right in there with them–you know we have to give [audiences] some traditional gospel…and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, yeah, I would pull her in. And if it’s still gospel, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle! Wow, don’t get me started with gospel singing and women!”
Pastor Caesar also has high praise for the industry’s newest vocalists. “We have some powerful young singers out there too that recently won [BET’s] Sunday Best. I’d pull them in too; those are some singing women.”
Not surprisingly, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee has performed with most if not all of the notables she mentioned. Is there a dream collaboration that remains?
“Andraé Crouch. I’ve always wanted to sing something with him,” she says. “But I’d like to do some more on the big screen; I’d like to do some acting.” To date, Pastor Caesar’s movie credits consist of appearances in The Fighting Temptations, The Unseen, and a cameo in Why Do Fools Fall in Love? She has also starred in musical stage plays and guested on sitcoms over the years.
For the living legend, acting is not a mere extension of her remarkable career. Rather, it is yet another means to present her message, her music, and her Messiah to the masses.
"Burn It All Down" – Lexi
“Burn It All Down”
Lexi
Available online March 13, 2012
www.foreverlexi.com
Lexi’s brand new single “Burn It All Down” is a worshipful plea for the Lord’s refining fire to “wipe out my sin and purify me again…leave only You/Let nothing stand in the place of Your truth.” Lexi’s fervent prayer is sure to find its way to contemporary worship sets everywhere.
The songstress and media personality will debut her single live this weekend at Radio One’s Praise 103.9 Inspiration and Music Conference in Philadelphia.
"Burn It All Down" – Lexi
“Burn It All Down”
Lexi
Available online March 13, 2012
www.foreverlexi.com
Lexi’s brand new single “Burn It All Down” is a worshipful plea for the Lord’s refining fire to “wipe out my sin and purify me again…leave only You/Let nothing stand in the place of Your truth.” Lexi’s fervent prayer is sure to find its way to contemporary worship sets everywhere.
The songstress and media personality will debut her single live this weekend at Radio One’s Praise 103.9 Inspiration and Music Conference in Philadelphia.
Delois Barrett Campbell “Her Legacy Lives On” Musical – March 11
![]() |
Click flyer to enlarge |
On what would be the weekend of her 86th birthday, the life and legacy of Delois Barrett Campbell will be celebrated at Chicago’s First Church of Deliverance. Some of Chicago’s finest–including Shekinah Glory Ministry, Chicago Mass Choir, Kim Stratton, and DeAndre Patterson–will gather in tribute to the internationally renowned soprano vocalist of the famed Roberta Martin Singers and the phenomenal Barrett Sisters. Admission is free.
Campbell, recognized as “The Royal Lady of Gospel,” exchanged time for eternity on August 2, 2011 (see related story). This year, she was honored posthumously at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, during which new trophies were unveiled bearing her name among the inscriptions of several other gospel greats.
Set for release later this year is a documentary chronicling the life and career of Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters. For the trio, it is a career that spans more than 60 years.
Delois Barrett Campbell "Her Legacy Lives On" Musical – March 11
![]() |
Click flyer to enlarge |
On what would be the weekend of her 86th birthday, the life and legacy of Delois Barrett Campbell will be celebrated at Chicago’s First Church of Deliverance. Some of Chicago’s finest–including Shekinah Glory Ministry, Chicago Mass Choir, Kim Stratton, and DeAndre Patterson–will gather in tribute to the internationally renowned soprano vocalist of the famed Roberta Martin Singers and the phenomenal Barrett Sisters. Admission is free.
Campbell, recognized as “The Royal Lady of Gospel,” exchanged time for eternity on August 2, 2011 (see related story). This year, she was honored posthumously at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, during which new trophies were unveiled bearing her name among the inscriptions of several other gospel greats.
Set for release later this year is a documentary chronicling the life and career of Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters. For the trio, it is a career that spans more than 60 years.
“Go on…God is still in charge!”

The Original Messengers paid homage to their founder and quartet frontman, the late Willie Banks, with a lively concert Saturday evening, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Roxboro, NC. Led by Rev. Curtis Watson, the tribute included a stroll down memory lane with “God Is Still In Charge” and “God’s Goodness,” among the Mississippi quartet’s notable songs. Banks, who passed 19 years ago this month, is remembered for his relaxed stage persona and flat-footed presentation, which intermingled story-telling with blues-tinged gospel.
"Go on…God is still in charge!"

The Original Messengers paid homage to their founder and quartet frontman, the late Willie Banks, with a lively concert Saturday evening, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Roxboro, NC. Led by Rev. Curtis Watson, the tribute included a stroll down memory lane with “God Is Still In Charge” and “God’s Goodness,” among the Mississippi quartet’s notable songs. Banks, who passed 19 years ago this month, is remembered for his relaxed stage persona and flat-footed presentation, which intermingled story-telling with blues-tinged gospel.
Kirk Franklin, Sounds of Blackness, T.D. Jakes win NAACP Image Awards
Winners of the 2012 NAACP Image Awards aired tonight on NBC. Gospel and inspirational nominees were represented across several categories. Below are the categories that had at least one gospel or inspirational nominee, with the winner denoted in red. Congratulations to all!
Outstanding New Artist
Committed
Epic
Diggy Simmons
Atlantic Records
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Columbia Records
Mindless Behavior
Streamline/Conjunction/Interscope Records
Wynter Gordon
Big Beat/Atlantic Records
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Boyz II Men
Benchmark Entertainment/MSM Music Group
Cee Lo Green feat. Melanie Fiona
Elektra Records
Mary J. Blige feat. Drake
Geffen
Sounds of Blackness
Malaco Music Group
The Roots
Island Def Jam Music Group
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)

Yolanda Adams
N House Music Group
Church on the Moon
Deitrick Haddon
Verity Gospel Music Group
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary
Columbia Records
The Journey
Andraé Crouch
RiverPhlo Entertainment
Outstanding World Music Album
Afrodiaspora
Susana Baca
Luaka Bop
Carnival Fever
Brother B
King Chero Records
Live at 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Boukman Eksperyans
MunckMix, Inc.
The First Grader
Alex Heffes
Varese Sarabande
Outstanding Song
“Best Thing I Never Had”
Beyoncé
Columbia Records
“Fool for You” feat. Melanie Fiona
Cee Lo Green
Elektra Records
“So In Love” feat. Anthony Hamilton
Jill Scott
Warner Bros. Records
“Someone Like You”
Adele
Columbia Records
Outstanding Reality Series
All-American Muslim
TLC
American Idol
FOX
Dancing with the Stars
Sunday Best
BET
Tia & Tamera
Style Network
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets
Bertice Berry
Freeman House Publishing
Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing
Synthia Saint James
Create Space
Our Difficult Sunlight: A Guide to Poetry, Literacy, & Social Justice in Classroom & Community
Quraysh Ali Lansana
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Too Important to Fail: Saving America’s Boys
Tavis Smiley (Author), Juan Roberts (Illustrator)
SmileyBooks
Kirk Franklin, Sounds of Blackness, T.D. Jakes win NAACP Image Awards
Winners of the 2012 NAACP Image Awards aired tonight on NBC. Gospel and inspirational nominees were represented across several categories. Below are the categories that had at least one gospel or inspirational nominee, with the winner denoted in red. Congratulations to all!
Outstanding New Artist
Committed
Epic
Diggy Simmons
Atlantic Records
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Columbia Records
Mindless Behavior
Streamline/Conjunction/Interscope Records
Wynter Gordon
Big Beat/Atlantic Records
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Boyz II Men
Benchmark Entertainment/MSM Music Group
Cee Lo Green feat. Melanie Fiona
Elektra Records
Mary J. Blige feat. Drake
Geffen
Sounds of Blackness
Malaco Music Group
The Roots
Island Def Jam Music Group
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)

Yolanda Adams
N House Music Group
Church on the Moon
Deitrick Haddon
Verity Gospel Music Group
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary
Columbia Records
The Journey
Andraé Crouch
RiverPhlo Entertainment
Outstanding World Music Album
Afrodiaspora
Susana Baca
Luaka Bop
Carnival Fever
Brother B
King Chero Records
Live at 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Boukman Eksperyans
MunckMix, Inc.
The First Grader
Alex Heffes
Varese Sarabande
Outstanding Song
“Best Thing I Never Had”
Beyoncé
Columbia Records
“Fool for You” feat. Melanie Fiona
Cee Lo Green
Elektra Records
“So In Love” feat. Anthony Hamilton
Jill Scott
Warner Bros. Records
“Someone Like You”
Adele
Columbia Records
Outstanding Reality Series
All-American Muslim
TLC
American Idol
FOX
Dancing with the Stars
Sunday Best
BET
Tia & Tamera
Style Network
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets
Bertice Berry
Freeman House Publishing
Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing
Synthia Saint James
Create Space
Our Difficult Sunlight: A Guide to Poetry, Literacy, & Social Justice in Classroom & Community
Quraysh Ali Lansana
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Too Important to Fail: Saving America’s Boys
Tavis Smiley (Author), Juan Roberts (Illustrator)
SmileyBooks