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Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

News
Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, More Honor Aretha patti-labelle-john-legend-sza-alicia-keys-common-more-celebrate-aretha-franklin

Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, Alicia Keys, Common & More Celebrate Aretha Franklin

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Artists across generations and genres convened to celebrate the beloved singer's life with moving performances and tributes at "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 5, 2019 - 10:41 am

On Jan. 13, 2019, the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles was filled with cheers, laughter and some tears as dozens of stars took to the stage to pay tribute to the late GRAMMY-winning icon Aretha Franklin with a special concert called Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.

Hosted by actor and comedian Tyler Perry, the talent-filled show featured performances from artists spanning generations, including Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, SZA, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Yolanda Adams, Common, Alessia Cara, Brandi Carlile, Chloe x Halle, Celine Dion, Fantasia, H.E.R. and more.

Brandi Carlile, Jennifer Hudson, More Honor Aretha

Moving Musical Tributes

Every tribute had the packed auditorium either dancing or swaying in their seats; at times the crowd was even moved to standing ovations. As recent first-time GRAMMY winning R&B artist H.E.R. said during her backstage interview, "I don't know one singer that doesn't listen to Aretha Franklin."

H.E.R. brought out her guitar and silky vocals as she sang "I Say A Little Prayer For You." Meanwhile, Fantasia hit all the high notes with grace as fellow GRAMMY winner Rob Thomas joined her for a lively duet of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," Aretha's 1986 song with GRAMMY winner George Michael.

H.E.R. Honors Aretha Franklin

GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams also gave two stunning performances, one a rousing nod to Aretha's gospel choir beginnings with a moving medley with fellow GRAMMY-winning gospel singers Shirley Caesar and Bebe Winans.

Earlier in the evening, GRAMMY-winning rapper and social justice advocate Common joined her for a powerful performance of "Young, Gifted And Black," which brought the whole crowd into a booming standing ovation. The song was originally written and recorded by Nina Simone and covered a few years later by Aretha as the GRAMMY-winning title track for her 18th studio album.

Patti LaBelle: No One Can Channel Aretha Franklin

Performers also included GRAMMY-nominated R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle, who sang "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" in coordinating sparkly fringe dresses. GRAMMY-winning Godmother Of Soul Patti LaBelle took it home as she wowed with "Call Me" in a shimmery black pantsuit number. She closing the song singing "We love you Aretha, we'll never forget you," to another standing ovation.

Alicia Keys and John Legend bookended the evening with their powerful voices and mesmerizing piano skills, Keys offering a medley with GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer SZA while Legend took on "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

More Aretha Accolades

In addition to performances from Aretha's admirers and peers, the show featured moving speeches and archival footage, which offered background to the songs and recounted milestones from Aretha's career, including videos of her singing at both Bill Clinton's and Barack Obama's Presidential inaugurations.

Fellow GRAMMY-winning, Detroit-raised music icon Smokey Robinson even took it way back as he shared the heartfelt story of meeting a six-year-old Aretha, whom he said would go on to become his "life-long friend" and the "Princess Of Soul." Another longtime friend and music industry icon, GRAMMY-winning producer and all around legend Clive Davis, also gave a powerful speech, asserting "there will never ever be another Aretha."

Stay tuned to GRAMMY.com to watch several full performances from the evening, to be released soon.

You can also sign up for our newly relaunched weekly newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube channel for keep up with all of our fresh GRAMMY video content and news.

Aretha Franklin's GRAMMY History: Remembering The Queen Of Soul

Aretha Franklin_122718

Aretha Franklin

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images

News
"Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration..." Announced all-star-lineup-pay-tribute-aretha-grammy-celebration-queen-soul

All-Star Lineup To Pay Tribute At "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen of Soul"

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A historic CBS tribute to be broadcast in 2019 will tape at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on Jan. 13, 2019 with performances by GRAMMY winners and 61st GRAMMY Award nominees
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 6:31 am

The Recording Academy's tradition of tribute specials continue with "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," a one-of-a-kind tribute concert and passionate remembrance of Aretha Franklin. The special will be taped on Jan. 13 and aired sometime in 2019 on CBS with performances from outstanding GRAMMY winners and nominees.

Aretha Franklin's GRAMMY Highlights

GRAMMY winners celebrating her legendary repertoire include Yolanda Adams, Andra Day, Shirley Caesar, Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and BeBe Winans. They will be joined in song and tribute by artists nominated for the 61st GRAMMY Awards — coming soon on Feb. 10, 2019 — Brandi Carlile, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, and SZA.

"For more than six decades, her extraordinary artistic achievements coupled with her passionate dedication to her philanthropic work — which ranged from children's and artists' issues to civil rights activism — served as a testament to her power, majesty, and genius," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "These gifts positioned her as a true cultural icon, and the Recording Academy is honored to celebrate her inspirational legacy"

https://twitter.com/celinedion/status/1030123347798110210

I'm saddened to learn that Aretha Franklin has passed.The most soulful and inspirational singer of our time. / Je suis attristée d'apprendre le décès d’Aretha Franklin. La chanteuse la plus inspirante de notre époque. - Céline xx…
📸 : Kevin Mazur https://t.co/3Tz7G2W205 pic.twitter.com/Q5DtmJ1IVa

— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 16, 2018

The unforgettable night will be hosted by movie and television actor, writer, director, and producer Tyler Perry. "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" is presented together with AEG Ehrlich Ventures, CBS and Clive Davis.

"Aretha was more than the Queen of Soul; she was a national treasure," said Davis. "This unique concert — featuring many of today's greatest artists — will celebrate Aretha in a spectacular manner befitting her once-in-a-lifetime talent."

Presale tickets for this live concert at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium will go on sale Friday, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. PST (use code "Aretha"), with general tickets going on sale Monday, Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. PST via AXS.com. Stay tuned for additional unique performance announcements as the special night approaches.

Aretha Franklin's GRAMMY History: Remembering The Queen Of Soul

John Legend

John Legend

Photo: Design: F. Inomata

News
John Legend Honors Aretha With A Stunning Cover john-legend-pays-tribute-aretha-franklin-stunning-cover-bridge-over-troubled-water

John Legend Pays Tribute To Aretha Franklin With A Stunning Cover Of "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

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"Aretha had a way of covering songs and making them her own," Legend said
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 8, 2019 - 6:09 pm

GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse John Legend—now an EGOT (an Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar and Tony winner)—truly brought the room to a state of awe with his powerful performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" during Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.

John Legend Honors Aretha With A Stunning Cover

During the concert, as he sat down at the piano, he that shared Paul Simon, half of GRAMMY-winning folk heroes Simon And Garfunkel, who originally wrote and recorded the song, has said Aretha Franklin's version was one of the best covers of his songs he'd ever heard.

At the 13th GRAMMY Awards in 1971 the duo took home two GRAMMY Awards for the song, Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Later that year Aretha would record her soulful version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and take home a win for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 14th GRAMMY Awards.

Legend astutely points to Aretha's power to take a great song and make it even better, by making it completely hers.

"Aretha had a way of covering songs and making them her own. And I was happy to do her version of the cover version," Legend shared, smiling.

You can hear his moving performance of the song, along with all of the other special moments from the special honoring the Queen Of Soul by tuning into CBS this Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT.

Jennifer Hudson On Honoring Aretha Franklin: "I Don't Think Any Singer Would Take It Lightly"

Celine Dion

Celine Dion

Photo: Design: F. Inomata

News
Celine Dion Will Never Forget Aretha Franklin celine-dion-says-she-will-never-forget-singing-aretha-franklin

Celine Dion Says She Will Never Forget Singing With Aretha Franklin

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The two GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouses famously shared the stage in 1998 at the first-ever "VH1 Divas" show
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 7, 2019 - 3:29 pm

GRAMMY winner Celine Dion has had plenty of high points in her career, and the "VH1 Divas" performance she shared with fellow GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse Aretha Franklin in 1998 is one she'll especially treasure.

Looking back on that moment, one she would "never forget," Dion said she had an easy decision to make when asked to be a part of the GRAMMY tribute to the late legend. She added her voice to the powerful evening that was "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," singing "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Backstage at the event, which will air on CBS in full this Sunday, March 10, Dion also reflected on the power that Aretha has had on her and many other singers and music fans.

"Whoever believes that music comes from the soul has a part of her," she emphasized. "We've been singing her, we've been feeling her."

"She has been showing us, all of us, how things are being done and no one will ever be doing that again," Dion finished.

Don't forget to catch "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Brandi Carlile Takes Aretha Franklin To Heart With A Special Tribute

Alessia Cara

Alessia Cara

Photo: Design: F. Inomata

News
Alessia Cara Celebrates Aretha Franklin alessia-cara-arethas-inspiration-you-could-tell-it-came-her-soul

Alessia Cara On Aretha's Inspiration: "You Could Tell That It Came From Her Soul"

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Her tribute and many more will air on CBS on March 10 as part of "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 5, 2019 - 10:21 am

GRAMMY-winning pop star Alessia Cara, who won Best New Artist at the 60th GRAMMY Awards, knows what it means to sing from the heart. She recently paid tribute to one of her idols, the late Aretha Franklin, singing "Until You Come Back To Me" at the icon's GRAMMY tribute concert. Cara opened the song with a shout out to her hero: "Thank you, Aretha. Your music continues to inspire and teach us."

Alessia Cara Celebrates Aretha Franklin

Following Aretha's passing last August, the music world united in remembering the queen. Her many loved ones celebrated her life with a star-studded, music filled memorial in her hometown of Detroit, while the community of artists she inspired continue to offer musical tributes, most recently on the 2019 GRAMMY stage.

Shortly before the GRAMMYs, the Recording Academy brought together many of these artists to sing Aretha's praises—and her unforgettable songs—for a powerful tribute concert.

"I always aspired to hit the notes that she hit and have the soul that she had," Cara shared in a backstage interview during the event. "You could tell that it came from her soul and I've always wanted to be able to do that to people and captivate an audience like she did."

Tune in to hear the moving speech about his and Aretha's friendship, along with all the special moments celebrating the Queen of Soul. "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" will air on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Tyler Perry Talks Doing "Madea" Impressions For Aretha Franklin

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates.