Posted by Katherine St Asaph on 01/29/2012 at 3:18 PM Videos

The Popdust Files: at last, christina aguilera, etta james, funerals

Etta James’ recent death moved much of the music community almost as much as her musical legacy did, but Christina Aguilera was surely among those more affected. James was long an influence on the singer, and her signature song “At Last” is a standard on Aguilera’s tours–as there’s enough footage online to confirm.

Before singing at James’ funeral, Aguilera admitted as much, saying that “there’s not a set list that goes by in a show that I do that I don’t include this particular song.” She continued, seeming genuinely overcome: “There’s a line in this song that says ‘I found a dream that I could speak to.’ And for me, all my life, that dream has been Etta James… Out of all the singers that I’ve ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me.” Listen below.

Stevie Wonder, who needs no introduction and who is one of the few musicians to near James’ legendary status, also sang at the service; we’ll update this with video when it’s available.