Missy Elliott Says Late Aaliyah Will 'Never' Be Forgotten on What Would've Been Her 46th Birthday: 'Much Love'

Mar. 15, 2025

Missy Elliott in August 2019; Aaliyah in June 2000.Photo: Noam Galai/Getty; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Missy Elliottwill always haveAaliyahon her mind.

In honor of what would’ve been the Princess of R&B’s 46th birthday on Jan. 16, Elliott took to X with aheartfelt tribute to her close-knit collaborator, who died in a 2001 plane crash at age 22.

Aaliyah.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Elliott added, “They continue to learn of your UNIQUE Music ORIGINAL Style & GLOWING personality. You will NEVER be 4Gotten.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member then turned her attention to Aaliyah’s brother, Rashad Haughton, who recentlyteamed up with Mattel on a Barbie doll modeled after his sisterto celebrate her birthday and overall legacy.

“Much love to you,” wrote Elliott, tagging Rashad. “your sis would be proud.”

Aaliyah; Mattel’s Aaliyah Barbie.SGranitz/WireImage; Mattel Inc.

SGranitz/WireImage; Mattel Inc.

Throughout Aaliyah’s short-lived career, she released three albums and earned top-10 hits on theBillboardHot 100 with the songs “Back & Forth,” “At Your Best (You Are Love),” “The One I Gave My Heart To,” “Try Again” and “Miss You.”

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The star was especially known for her iconic ’90s style, and the new Barbie’s outfit was drawn from her “One in a Million” music video.

Rashad Haughton and Aaliyah.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

“‘One in a Million,’ it makes little girls feel special,” Rashad explained in a recent interview with PEOPLE. “It’s having a dream. It’s a beautiful song about love and having a special love. So all these different elements, just from a metaphorical standpoint, were perfect.”

Aaliyah’s brother predicted his sister would be “elated” to see the Barbie. “She did things so they were right and they felt good,” he said. “So she would be so happy of how the execution went down and that it looks so much like her.”

source: people.com