On Air Now
Smooth Breakfast with Eamonn Kelly 6am - 10am
16 August 2021, 11:02
If you needed an example of what pure talent and incredible soul is, you just need to watch any Aretha Franklin video.
Aretha Franklin often brought people to tears through her powerful and emotional vocal ability.
Put it this way: there's a reason she was dubbed the Queen of Soul.
Here are just five times that she brought the house down and then some:
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Live at Kennedy Center Honors)
When songwriter Carole King was awarded with a Kennedy Center prize in 2015, there was only one lady who was going to sing one of her songs.
Aretha surprised Carole with a rousing performance of her classic ballad '(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman'.
Starting off on the piano and then stepping out onto the stage to finish with an almighty attack of soul, President Obama and all in attendance couldn't believe what they had witnessed.
Aretha Franklin "Nessun Dorma" Liveᴴᴰ (Grammy Awards)
At the 1998 Grammys, Luciano Pavarotti was scheduled to perform his signature piece, 'Nessun Dorma'.
However, he was too ill to attend and just 20 or so minutes before, Aretha stepped up and pretty much said "I'll give it a whirl". Incredible.
Aretha Franklin Precious Lord (Martin Luther King Funeral)(1968)
Aretha became a friend of Martin Luther King Jr, and had the opportunity to tour the South with him when she was just 16 years old.
Her tribute to him at his funeral - performing 'Precious Lord' - was particularly powerful considering her personal relationship with the civil rights icon.
Aretha Franklin Best Rendition 'Respect Live 1968 Aretha Franklin Day (Rare)'
This was part of a special 'Aretha Franklin Day' in Detroit back in 1968, with Martin Luther King Jr in attendance.
Aretha shows just how incredibly talented she was from such a young age, and made this soul classic her own.
Aretha Franklin Covers 'Rolling in the Deep' on 'Letterman'
Two different generations collide in this fantastic medley on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2014.
Aretha covered Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' and mashed it up with 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' for a fantastic performance.