GISELE MacKENZIE: God Bless America - 2001 performance

This stunning and moving performance of "God Bless America" is by TV legend Gisele MacKenzie, who was appearing at this event not long after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. and only a few hundred miles from ground zero. Gisele moved to the US from her native Canada 50 years before this performance. Already known as Canada's First Lady of Song while just out of her teens, Gisele quickly became a major star in the US with regular TV spots with Jack Benny, Your Hit Parade, Sid Caesar, The Gisele MacKenzie Show, etc. She was also a major night club, concert and theater star, who loved her work. Gisele didn't sing patriotic songs like this often, but had sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a world series playoff game for Gene Autry's L.A. Angels, introduced "Let There Be Peace on Earth" on her TV series, and sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee" from time to time. This stunning late-career performance was done not long after 9/11/2001. Unknown to her public, Miss MacKenzie had been battling cancer, but continued to perform. It would only be a matter of two years before the lovely Gisele lost her battle to this dreadful diease. She was a trooper and is one glorius angel.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gisele
• MacKenzie
• God
• Bless
• America

[ElderPinkerton]

What a wonderful voice! I remember hearing about her from my Grandmother and my parents. They always enjoyed seeing her on Jack Benny's show. I love these programs. They were comedic genius at it's finest. It seems like comedy now is either all dirty or very mean.

[VideosTimes2]

What can I say, but you are so right! I miss Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Sid Caesar...the REAL comics! I also miss the REAL singers like Miss MacKenzie!

[BlueEyesnurse]

I miss her, an amazing woman...LOVE

[VideosTimes2]

...and so do I! There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of lovely Gisele and smile! She brought a lot of joy into this ole world.

[VideosTimes2]

@Juliaflo OK, now why on earth would Gisele MacKenzie sing "O Canada" a matter of days after the 9/11 attacks on several US location...and when she was appearing only a few hundred miles from ground zero? And people wonder why I approve comments before they appear with my videos. ..and the commentor used the phrase 'lest you forget'....

[VideosTimes2]

@offcampusstudent1993 When was Star Spangled Banner in the top 7 songs of the week so Gisele could have sung it on Hit Parade?

[Juliaflo]

@1tallguy49 No, Miss MacKenzie passed away a few years ago from colon cancer.

[VideosTimes2]

@offcampusstudent1993 Why would anyone sing "Star Spangled Banner" on Your Hit Parade? It was never a 'hit.' That being said Gisele did sing Banner at a World Series Playoff Game some years ago.

[ve2so]

Anybody has her french songs?

[NonInflatable]

Gisele MacKenzie was 74 when she sang this. She died in 2003.

[dcbornmike]

What a treat to see her sing again!!!