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After decades in the music industry, Christina Aguilera is a seasoned professional, but even she can get a case of the nerves when it comes to performing for other music icons.
During a chat with RAYE for Rolling Stone published Monday (October 21), Aguilera recalled the time she performed one of Whitney Houston's songs in front of her, and while that would be anxiety-inducing for anyone, it fortunately worked out well for Aguilera as the legendary artist was "lovely," per People.
"I sang "Run to You" for Whitney Houston in front of her," she said. "That was nerve-wracking, but she couldn't have been more sweet and lovely."
The powerhouse vocalist also shared that her "toughest vocal performance" was when she sang "A Song for You" with Herbie Hancock because the "arrangement was so intricate, so delicate and full of ad-libs" and that "it was a lot to try and perfect that live."
Elsewhere in their chat, the 43-year-old "Genie in a Bottle" singer praised RAYE, 26, for being "ahead of the game," specifically shouting out how she tends to perform without shoes.
"I mean, even the fact that she sings barefoot. I've already f---ed up my legs and my feet so bad with all this high-heel nonsense," she said. "I f---ed up the cartilage in my knee. I love that about you, though. I never had the balls to just do it. Those are the best when you just feel the floor underneath."