Jennifer Hudson and Celine Dion were among the superstar singers who took part in the Aretha Franklin tribute Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul, which was slated to air on CBS Sunday evening.
Alicia Keys, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson were other musical stars on hand to pay tribute to the late Queen of Soul in the Tyler Perry-hosted ceremony, in addition to legends such as Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle, and Hollywood standouts Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance.
The concert was filmed in front of 5,500 people January 13 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, less than five months after Franklin's death at 76 on August 19 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Emotional: Celine was set to perform the song A Change Is Gonna Come at the show
Veteran producer Clive Davis, one of the show's producers, said in December that 'this unique concert - featuring many of today's greatest artists - will celebrate Aretha in a spectacular manner befitting her once-in-a-lifetime talent.'
Davis had originally devised the show as a tribute to Franklin while she was alive, and it would have been held in New York City, according to the Detroit Free Press.
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Host Perry told the paper that 'the only thing she would have regretted is not being up there to out-sing everybody and show them how it really goes.'
'In our lifetime, there will never be another voice like her. Who knows if there will ever be another woman who will endure as much as she did, to sing the way she did, and conquer every genre of music.'
Say a little prayer: Hudson performed before a crowd of 5,500 at the tribute
Stalwart: John Legend was seated at his piano to deliver a rendition ofBridge Over Troubled Water
Stunning:Janelle Monáe donned a black coat with white stripes to singRock Steady
Beaming beauties:Alicia Keys and SZA held hands as they sang in the tribute to the icon
It's the latest in a series of memorials for the late Respect singer, whose August 31 funeral in Detroit featured performances from Hudson, Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande. Franklin was also honored in segments at the Grammys, Oscars and Emmys awards.
Past Grammy events have been held for artists such as the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra.
Bringing things together: Tyler Perry, a dear friend of the late singer, hosted the ceremony
Duet:Rob Thomas and Fantasia teamed up to sing the 1987 ballad I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), which Aretha performed with the late George Michael
Talented trio:Andra Day, Fantasia and Yolanda Adams took on the classic,(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Legend: Smokey Robinson was among Aretha's luminaries to speak about her at the show
Gone but not forgotten: Franklin died at 76 on August 19 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was snapped in March 2019 at theElton John AIDS Foundation's 25th Anniversary Gala
Track list forAretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
Jennifer Hudson - Think, Aint No Way, Respect medley
Kelly Clarkson - I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
Janelle Monáe - Rock Steady
Alicia Keys and SZA - Spirit in the Dark, Day Dreaming, Youre All I Need to Get By
Celine Dion - A Change Is Gonna Come
H.E.R. - I Say a Little Prayer
Rob Thomas and Fantasia - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
Yolanda Adams and Common - To Be Young, Gifted and Black
Chloe X Halle - Sisters Are Doin It for Themselves
Patti LaBelle - I Dreamed a Dream, Call Me
Alessia Cara - Until You Come Back to Me (Thats What Im Gonna Do)
Brandi Carlile - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
Andra Day - Chain of Fools, Freeway of Love Medley
Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Bebe Winans - Never Grow Old, Mary Dont You Weep, What a Friend We Have in Jesus
How I Got Over Medley
John Legend - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Ensemble - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Finale
