Georgia residents Cassandra Turner Nelson and Donnell Cross didn’t go to Walmart with the intention of becoming the stars of a viral video back in 2019. But their incredible singing voices paved the way. Their outstanding, impromptu performance started catching the attention of viewers, and before you knew it, they were on stage singing “Strahan, Sara & Keke,” performing the duet that made them famous.
You see, Nelson — the daughter of the late preacher and singer Norris Turner — was in the canned goods aisle searching for the veggies she wanted to eat. She was also listening to music in her headset and humming along. She had no idea that her life was about to take an unexpected turn. That’s because a man shopping in the same aisle, on the opposite side, heard her.
Emboldened by an altered state of consciousness, Cross decided he wanted to join in.
He approached Nelson and inquired as to whether or not she knew the song “If This World Were Mine” by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn. When she affirmed that she did, Donnell began to sing and quickly captured Nelson’s attention. His remarkable ability to imitate Vandross’ nuanced vocal inflections made him sound exactly like the iconic, late singer.
By the time Nelson began to sing, she was fully caught up in the moment. With Cross encouraging her, she grew increasingly comfortable. Their chemistry was palpable. Before long, a crowd started to form, and cell phone cameras began to roll. They finished the song on a powerful, high note and moved in closer for a heartfelt embrace.
According to the Daily Mail, Nelson was unsure what Cross’ intentions were when he first approached her, wondering if he was going to “challenge” her. Once they agreed to sing together, a crowd formed. Still, Nelson had reservations.
“I wondered, ‘Are the police going to come get us?’ Then the crowd came around and they were smiling and then we were like we can do this,” she said.
Cross and Nelson’s performance of “If This World Were Mine” has continued to amaze people as it racks up more views online.
But history was not done writing their musical script. Some famous people heard them sing, then their names and that magical Walmart performance began to circulate in celebrity circles. Then they appeared on “Strahan, Sara & Keke.” While there, the duo received a personal message from Common and was informed that they were being granted an all-expenses-paid trip to New York to perform on his show at the Apollo Theater.
On another note, their choice of a song from the 1980s R&B era appeared to have tapped into something that was lurking beneath the surface of contemporary music. “We can do this, bring R&B back. R&B gospel,” Nelson, as per the Daily Mail. “If you listen to music these days it’s not real.”
She added, “He (Cross) could really sing. It makes me sing even harder. Bring that R&B flavor back. Let’s go get this music.”
In March 2022, the pair proved to still be friends and uploaded a YouTube video together. They spoke about their friendship and also even sang a little together! It’s safe to say that as long as Nelson and Cross still have their voices, they will never stop harmonizing.
What did you think about this duo’s performance? Did you like their song choice? Let us know, and be sure to pass this beautiful performance along to your family and friends.