Legendary singer Mariah Carey went to church on Easter Sunday. The pastor who welcomed her to church is kind of a celebrity himself.
The Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, recognized Carey in the congregation on Sunday morning during the Easter service, which was livestreamed.
Warnock is also a U.S. senator for Georgia.
During his announcements on Easter Sunday morning, Warnock noted the presence of one of the most successful female singers of all time.
“Today in worship, and she came to worship, so y’all let her worship, praise God, but it just so happens that the best-selling female artist of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold to date, 19 Billboard Hot 100 number one singles, 18 of them penned by herself, more than any solo artist artist in history and inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, I could go on and on and on, her Christmas album is so bad, folks listen to it at Easter time,” Warnock said.
The church is connected to Carey through its music director, Daniel Moore, Warnock noted.
“Her music director is Ebenezer’s musical director,” Warnock said. “In fact, I think he was our musical director before he was your musical director. So, when you feel the spirit, know where that’s coming from.”
Carey, wearing dark sunglasses but clearly recognizable, stood and waved.
“Welcome, Mariah Carey’s in the house,” Warnock said. “Good to see you, Mariah. God bless you. Good to see you at church. Welcome. She said the words, she said, ‘Tell Rev., I’m coming to worship.’ All right? And not to sing. And that’s fine. Nope. She ought to be able to come to worship. Imagine if every time you showed up, you had to perform. She came to worship. We love to hear her sing, but I like that. No, I’m serious. I said, we love to hear her sing, but she came to worship. I love that. I love that.”
Warnock also noted another celebrity in attendance, music producer Jermaine Dupri, who has also worked with Carey. Dupri was raised in Atlanta.
“Now, speaking of songwriters and producers and phenoms, Jermaine Dupri is in the house,” Warnock said. “There’s my brother. Good to see you, brother. He came to worship, and we are glad.”
Warnock said that celebrities are always welcome, the same as people from any walk of life.
“This is a house of prayer for all people,” Warnock said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a celebrity, or a lawyer, or a plumber, or a street sweeper, or a homeless person. We’re going to worship with you and try to get you a house, because this is God’s house. And God’s house is a house of prayer for all people.”
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