Members of theGleecast have unwrapped a special holiday gift to fans of the lateNaya Rivera.
Naya Rivera.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
According to Alexandria House, the cast of the Golden Globe-winning series received permission from Rivera’s mother, Yolanda Previtire, and the original songwriters, Isaac Hasson and Lindy Robbins, to release the track.Ashley Fink,Vanessa Lengies,Kevin McHale,Heather Morris,Amber RileyandJenna Ushkowitzcontributed to the project and ended up lending their backing vocals to the final version of the song.
In the caption, he added, “This year, let’s celebrate the gifts Naya gave to us, her talent and her heart. This song has meant to much to me over the years and now I hope it will for all of you.”
The song itself, first composed and recorded in 2012, is a compelling empowerment anthem. In her signature, soulful voice, the Santana Lopez actress sings of uplifting anyone who experiences loneliness or feels like an outcast.
“This is a prayer for the broken / For those who are afraid / This is a cry for this brave world / So beautiful and strange / It’s all so temporary, so temporary / But we are not alone / So hold me like you’ll never let me go,” she sings in the chorus.
PEOPLE spoke to Fink, 37, about the project ahead of its release at the opening night ofLove ActuallyLivein Los Angeles on Wednesday.
‘Glee’.FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
She explained that the idea for Snixxmas originally came from a party the late singer used to throw of the same name, as a nod to her nickname “Snixx.” Fink said, “After she passed, Kevin McHale and Jenna and her best friend, Telly, all decided to keep it going in her memory. Because she wasn’t here, we all wanted to make sure every year we donated to [Alexandria House]. They got to buy an entire apartment complex for women in need, and it’s so incredible.”
Of collaborating on “Prayer for the Broken,” Fink said, “When we all got together in the recording studio, all we talked about was Naya, our Snicks, and all these fun memories.”
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“The thing aboutGleeis — I know everyone says this — but it was such a family,” the actress continued. “So few people got to experience what we experienced together. It’s something that bonds you forever, and we’ve gone through so much tragedy, unfortunately. The tragedy, the triumphs, and the love, there’s so much love there between all of us. Any time we get together, we talk aboutCory [Monteith], we talk about Naya.”
She added, “It’s a wonderful way to honor her memory, and all get to share our favorite moments together every year.”
source: people.com
