Slay It: Queen Aretha Franklin Shows Out At Kennedy Center Honors
The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrated the magnificent careers of actress/singer Rita Moreno, director George Lucas, conductor Seiji Ozawa, singer Carole King and actress Cicely Tyson, but it was the performance of legendary singer Aretha Franklin that stole the show.
During last night’s (Dec. 29) broadcast of this year’s ceremony, Aretha, whose upcoming biopic is rumored to star the multi-talented Jennifer Hudson, sat behind a piano and began to tap away at the keys to her song “Natural Woman” during a tribute to Carole King, who was visibly beside herself to have Franklin sing her hit song in her honor.
The performance grew in magnetism as the melody went on, especially when 73-year-old Franklin stood up, took off her fabulous fur coat and brought the star-studded crowd, which included President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez and How To Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis, to their feet during an unforgettable display of her undisputed vocal prowess.
You better just sing, Queen Aretha! Watch her chill-inducing performance under the cut, and watch for President Obama wiping his tears away during her performance. The power of Aretha Franklin.
