What a moment!
Queen Esther Marrow, the powerhouse soul and gospel vocalist whose career has spanned over six decades, recently experienced a beautiful full-circle moment. The 84-year-old icon was filmed reacting to hearing her own voice sampled during Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour performance.
In a video shared to Instagram, Marrow sat with a family member watching the moment on a laptop — and when her vocals came through the speakers, her face lit up.
“That’s me! Oh my God!” she shouted, pointing at the screen before bursting into joyful laughter.
In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Marrow reflected on the moment and what it means for her legacy. “At 84 years young, I am deeply honored to know that my voice — and my words — still find new life and meaning today. The song that Beyoncé chose to sample in her interlude to #TexasHoldem on her #CowboyCarter tour is one I co-wrote and had the privilege to perform/record many years ago.”
Discovered at age 22 by Duke Ellington, Marrow went on to perform around the globe, working alongside icons like Mahalia Jackson, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She’s sung for presidents, the Pope, and countless world leaders while leaving her mark as a member of the Harlem Gospel Singers and beyond.
“Thank you to every listener, young and old, who keeps the legacy alive for all of us of a certain generation,” she also shared. And thank you to Beyoncé for letting my voice and my words echo in your powerful show. May we never forget the power of our music to heal, uplift, and unite.”
Cover photo: Legendary Actor Glynn Turman Receives Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame / Photo Credit: PBS