Photo: David Gray

Last night, husband-and-wife powerhouse Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks appeared on the holiday television special CMA Country Christmas. Motor City gospel singer BeBe Winans joined the pair to perform the spiritual Christmas carol, “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” giving the classic number a soulful treatment that stayed true to each musician’s signature style.  

The performance occurred prior to Tuesday night’s televised special. It was filmed at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tenn. Backed by a full band and opened with a solo from Trucks, the performance is captured in a video that showcases musical excellence: an instrumental pulse driven by the horn section, before Winans takes the initial lyrical lead, with coos of support that spotlight Tedeschi’s blues experience. 

A full choir grooves in support of the three chosen players, with sax screams delineating the power felt during the track’s delivery. Tedeschi’s heavenly wails take the listener higher, spreading holiday merriment with a gospel Christmas classic. At the video’s 2:25-minute mark, Trucks officially steps forward, sliding his fingers across the guitar strings and making the instrumental squeal with elation for the spirit of the season, like a child walking down stairs on Christmas morning, overcome by the surprise of Santa’s gifts. 

Watch the official video below and get in the holiday groove.