Beyonce Explains Performing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"

Beyoncé Explains “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” Grammy Performance

Beyoncé is finally breaking her silence (sort of) on why she and not Ledisi performed “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” at last night’s Grammys. Viewers online were split over Queen Bey being chosen to sing the gospel song and not Ledisi who sang it for the movie Selma and was in attendance at the award show. In a newly released behind-the-scenes video, Beyoncé explains during a rehearsal for her performance why it was dear to her and picking an all-male choir to accompany her. According to the singer:

I wanted to find real men that have lived, have struggled, cried and have a light and a spirit about them. I felt like this is be an opportunity to show the strength and vulnerability in black men. My grandparents marched with Dr. King, and my father was part of the first generation of black men that attended an all-white school. My father has grown up with a lot of trauma from those experiences. I feel like now I can sing for his pain, I can sing for my grandparents’ pain. I can sing for some of the families that have lost their sons.

Whether you love or hate Beyoncé, it is clear she wasn’t trying to steal Ledisi’s moment in the sun and instead wanted to point attention to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

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