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Talk about sisters with voices!
Some of the most powerful female singers of today's music scene will gather together to pay homage to The Queen of Soul at this year's Grammy Awards.
The Recording Academy will spend a special "valentine" and "get well card" to Aretha Franklin during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, which will be televised internationally and digitally live from Los Angeles' STAPLES Center on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. EST.
Academy and Grammy Award winning vocal powerhouse Jennifer Hudson will join gospel diva Yolanda Adams, country superstar Martin McBride, London rocker Florence Welch (of Florence + The Machine) and Christina Aguilera for a musical tribute to Franklin, who is in recovery from an unspecified ailment which derailed her music plans for six months.
Franklin, an 18-time Grammy Award winner is currently up for another trophy this year; her duet with fellow R&B legend Ronald Isley on the classic 'You've Got A Friend' is nominated in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category.
The special segment will feature individual and collective performances of some of the Franklin's classic hits and will add to what seems like an endless lineup for Music's Biggest Night
Because of her illness, the 'Freeway of Love' singer will not be in attendance at this year's ceremony but production sources say that Franklin may be shown via video conferencing. In an interview yesterday on CNN Headline News, the chanteuse said she will be home watching the show and popping popcorn.
Other sources hint that Whitney Houston may appear in tribute of her the woman known as her godmother.
Her Royal Highness
After recording a string of jazz and blues projects for Columbia Records, Memphis born songstress Aretha Franklin landed at Atlantic Records in 1966. "They made me sit down on the piano and the hits came," she later said about her legacy there.
Aretha Franklin performing during a Martin Luther King Benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 28, 1968.
Aretha Franklin with 'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius. Franklin was one of many entertainers who performed on the long-running show during its 1970s heyday.
Aretha Franklin rehearsing for Inaugural Eve program for newly elected US President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale at the Kennedy Center in 1977.
Flanked in fur, Aretha Franklin in the press room at the Grammy Awards, circa early 1980s.
Aretha Franklin performing in Chicago on April 18, 1985.
Aretha Franklin, pictured here with Atlantic Records chairman Ahmet Ertegun (circa early 1990s), at a private music industry party.
Aretha Franklin and Luciano Pavarotti are photographed at the 8th Annual Music Cares Gala in Honor of the famed opera singer. The event took place at New York City's posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel on February 23, 1998.
Aretha Franklin held royal court during the broadcast of 'VH1 Divas Live' at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on April 14, 1998. During the show's finale a stirring rendition of her classic song, 'Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel),' The Queen of Soul is joined by Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Carole King, Celine Dion and Shania Twain.
On September 29, 1999, President Bill Clinton, along with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, awarded Aretha Franklin with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
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Comments: (26)
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By: uub140 on 2/09/2011 3:10PM
Now THIS is a proud sister!! Not ashamed to act, look and sing like one of the people. Let HER sing the anthem at the next Super Bowl!
And let fat ass white wannabe Michelle and her Jackie O pretentions go back to Chicago.
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By: Mimi on 2/10/2011 7:39AM
YOU TEABAGGERS ARE REALLY JUST SO HATEFUL. WHY DO YOU PEOPLE KEEP POSTING ALL OF YOUR STUPID CRAP ON BV?
ALL YOU ARE DOING IS MAKING PEOPLE SEE JUST HOW STUPID AND HATEFUL YOU PEOPLE ARE.
THIS STORY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MICHELLE OBAMA AND YOU JEALOUS HATEFUL PEOPLE CAN'T POST A COMMENT WITHOUT BRINGING UP THE OBAMA'S?
SO SAD, PATHETIC AND JEALOUS YOU PEOPLE ARE.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE 2012 ELECTION IS FAST APPROACHING AND YOU PEOPLE (TEA BAGGER/REPUBLICANS) WILL BE ALL OVER THE BLACK WEBSITES PRETENDING TO BE BLACK POSTING YOUR "WHY I HATE THE OBAMA'S" COMMENTS.
AT LEAST POST YOUR B.S. WHEN THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT THE OBAMA'S AS OPPOSED TO SOME RANDOM POST OUT OF NO WHERE.
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By: stare k on 2/10/2011 1:32PM
-Trailer Trash
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By: Kat on 2/11/2011 2:01PM
I wasn't going to comment on this ignorant post because I am not an Aretha Franklin fan, until the
first lady (who is not mentioned in the article) was disrespected. Just because Michelle Obama speaks well, dresses appropriately, is married to her childrens father, has an education, shaves her under arms, speaks in soft lady like voice, I could go on and on) does not mean that she is not proud of her race, but that she represents the best. Not all black people act ghetto..ish. Aretha Franklin does not represent ALL black people no more the Sarah Palin represents ALL white people.(thank goodness)
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By: J on 2/10/2011 9:08AM
I can't wait to see the performance. Awesome.
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By: Grammy smammy! on 2/10/2011 9:32AM
I love Aretha Franklin, but why do they keep honoring her and Barbra Streisand over and over again. She has gotten so many nobilities from the Grammys before. They are only honoring Aretha this year is because they thought that she was dying of pancreatic cancer. Let’s give her one more award before she dies. There are some many other deserving artist they should recognize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: Gail on 2/13/2011 7:03PM
@ uub140 - You teabaggers are just showing how ignorant you really are. Keep up the good work dumbasses!!!
@Grammy Smammy - I kinda agree with you. I think they thought Ree Ree was outta here, so they said let's honor her right now. And true, there are others that can be honored as well.
I just hope they don't make a mess of this award show. Please don't let me be ashamed of my people, sitting with my hands over my eyes peeking through my fingers..lol
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By: musiq on 2/14/2011 4:51PM
like who? Aretha has been a consummate artist since the age of fourteen, and still investing and performing.. on her on .. not quitting when the record label gives up.. investing in herself.
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By: stare k on 2/10/2011 1:37PM
TO uub 140 . We could care less of what TRAILER
TRASH THOUGHT OF US .
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By: Derek O'Neal on 2/10/2011 1:41PM
I'm so proud of the academy! Aretha Franklin is indeed, legendary and will continue to be so. It is so appropriate for the academy to honor her now. Right Now! Her health scare reminded us how easy we could lose such an iconic, great entertainer. So many of us love her and continue to pray for her!
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