UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) 鈥� and Halle Bailey 鈥� bridging Motown's old and new school 鈥� are lending their voices during a holiday special to honor the groundbreaking record label that changed music forever.
Robinson and Bailey will host 鈥淎 Motown Christmas," a special that will celebrate Motown鈥檚 iconic music and influence on American culture. The show will include solo performances, duets and group medleys.
The show will include an all-star lineup including Robinson, Bailey, The Temptations, Jamie Foxx and Ashanti. Other performances will feature BeBe Winans, JoJo, Martha Reeves , the Vandellas, Jordin Sparks, Machine Gun Kelly, October London and Pentatonix.
Here are some insights into the special airing Wednesday night on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock:
What were Robinson and Bailey's Motown traditions for Christmas
For years, celebrated their success with 鈥渆laborate鈥� Christmas gifts for each other. But eventually, they decided to forgo the flashy exchanges.
鈥淭hat's what we did a long time ago,鈥� Robinson said.
Now, their holiday tradition is simply catching up 鈥� whether it's over a call or casual hangout.
When Bailey visited South Carolina for Christmas, her grandfather filled the house with Motown music.
One of the first songs she remembers hearing the 1965 single 鈥淭he Tracks of My Tears," composed by Robinson, Pete Moore and Marv Tarplin from the singing group, The Miracles. Another moment was when she and her sister, Chloe Bailey, performed The Supremes' 1964 track 鈥淏aby Love鈥� during a talent show, sporting black sequin dresses while trying mimic their moves.
鈥淭hat's how I first started listening to it," said Halle Bailey, who starred in the Disney鈥檚 live-action remake of 鈥淭he Little Mermaid." 鈥淚 remember the feeling of Christmas and the music of Motown being just the beautiful background music, anytime you're opening presents. It's just amazing.鈥�
How many songs will be performed during the special?
More than 25 Motown songs will be on display, including classics such as: 鈥淎BC"; 鈥淎in鈥檛 No Mountain High Enough鈥�; 鈥淒ancing in the Streets鈥�; 鈥淚 Heard It Through the Grapevine鈥�; 鈥淢y Girl鈥�; 鈥淩each Out (I鈥檒l be There)鈥�; and 鈥淪uperstition.鈥�
Robinson will sing 鈥淭ears of a Clown," 鈥淏eing With You鈥� and 鈥淭racks of My Tears.鈥�
Bailey will be performing a medley celebrating Diana Ross and the Supremes. She'll also hit the stage to perform 鈥淪top (In the Name of Love),鈥� 鈥淏aby Love鈥� and 鈥淵ou Keep Me Hanging On.鈥�
鈥淲hen you grow up listening to this music, it lives inside of you forever,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淚t was truly an honor to perform those songs that sang in my heart since I was a little girl.鈥�
The 11-piece live band for 鈥淎 Motown Christmas鈥� will be led by Emmy Award-winning musical director Rickey Minor.
NBC previously aired two Motown television specials, including 鈥淢otown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever鈥� and 鈥淢otown Returns to the Apollo,鈥� which both won Emmy Awards.
What was Motown's purpose?
When Gordy launched Motown, he gave Black musicians the platform to showcase their talents at a time when they struggled to get records played on mainstream radio stations.
Gordy's label introduced and helped launch the careers of some of the biggest selling music stars from Marvin Gaye to Lionel Richie.
The success of Gordy's label is captured at the , the first headquarters of Gordy鈥檚 music empire where Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, the Miracles and other performers recorded hits. Motown moved to California in 1972.
How Motown lives on from Robinson's perspective
At 84, Robinson pointed during the interview toward 24-year-old Bailey, a living testament to how Motown鈥檚 magic has transcended generations.
鈥淭his lady right here, she鈥檚 living proof of the importance of Motown,鈥� said Robinson, who was the lead in the pioneering Motown group, the Miracles. He was once the label鈥檚 vice president.
鈥淲hen Motown was started, she wasn鈥檛 even born,鈥� he continued. 鈥淎nd here she knows the music. She knows the artists. I think there are kids now, her son, who will grow up knowing Motown. Kids who haven鈥檛 been born yet will know it.鈥�
Bailey called Motown 鈥渦niversal.鈥�
鈥淭he longevity of the music,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he truth and honesty of the music. The stories told. You resonate with almost every song because you鈥檝e been through it or you鈥檙e going through it. Each song speaks to your heart. They stay with you.鈥�
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
