It's been 15 years since the world lost Aaliyah, but her all-too-short legacy still hangs heavy in the halls of music.
Only 22 years old when a plane carrying her and eight others crashed shortly after takeoff, Aaliyah Dana Haughton has been heralded for not just amassing major achievements at such a young age, but for incorporating elements of R&B, pop and hip-hop into her music in a way that would define the sound of an entire decade.
As her life and work continue to impact contemporary stars such as Rihanna, Drake and Alicia Keys — whose song "If I Ain't Got You" was directly inspired by Aaliyah's passing — here's a look at the first time the immortal songstress was introduced to the world as well as the last performance she would ever give for a television audience.
A 'Star' Is Found
Thanks to the modern influx of singing competitions, people may be jaded when it comes to seeing children who can belt it out, but the Brooklyn-born native's performance in her TV debut still holds its own against the pre-teen titans of shows such as "America's Got Talent" and "The X Factor."
Donning shoulder pads that would make any 1980s real estate agent jealous, the nascent superstar already possessed the confidence of a pro, giving a curtsey and a precocious smirk to cap off her performance.Singing "My Funny Valentine" at the age of 10, Aaliyah blew the doors off the "Star Search" stage, demonstrating an already impressive talent already honed by doing gigs at weddings and charity events.
Though she would fail to overtake reigning champ Katrina Abrams and her giant red hat that day, Aaliyah's career would explode four years later with her debut album, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number," selling over 3 million copies in the United States alone.
Stealing the 'Show'
Promoting her third album, the self-titled "Aaliyah," the gifted recording artist appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" exactly one month before her shocking demise.
Jay Leno's introduction of her record, saying it was "getting terrific reviews," would be an understatement. The work received enthusiastic support from critics, with Rolling Stone calling it "a near-flawless declaration of strength and independence" and Spin deeming it "deeper than anything she's delivered before … almost never does a song roll over and beg to be loved."
Her voice delicate yet soulful, Aaliyah's "More Than a Woman" would still resonate despite the limitations of the Tonight Show stage recording.
Aaliyah’s family would file a wrongful death lawsuit against the company operating her flight, citing how the pilot, Luis Morales, was not registered to fly. An autopsy would also reveal he had traces of alcohol and cocaine in his system.
(TIM AYLEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
In viewing the way she delivered choreography onto the already-packed stage, it's hard not to imagine where her career would've taken her. Had it not been for the August 25, 2001, accident that took her life, the singer-actor-dancer would currently be 37. (For an idea of where she might be in her career, fellow super songstress Beyonce is 34.)
After wrapping up a song seemingly celebrating female equality that would earn her a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Aaliyah would take her final televised bow.
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