5 of Aretha Franklin's greatest live performances, from 'Nessun Dorma' to 'Natural Woman'

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:

1. Bringing Barack Obama and Carole King to tears with 'Natural Woman'

   

   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.

   Read more: The Story of... 'Natural Woman'

   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.

2. Filling in for Pavarotti on 'Nessun Dorma'

   

   Aretha Franklin "Nessun Dorma" Liveᴴᴰ (Grammy Awards)

   At the 1998 Grammys, Luciano Pavarotti was scheduled to perform his signature piece, 'Nessun Dorma'.

   Read more: When Aretha Franklin had to sing ‘Nessun Dorma’ after Pavarotti fell sick at the Grammys, and it was astonishing

   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.

3. Emotionally paying tribute at Martin Luther King Jr's funeral

   

   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.

   Read more: Aretha Franklin and Martin Luther King’s extraordinary friendship explored in ‘Respect’ movie

   Her tribute to him at his funeral - performing 'Precious Lord' - was particularly powerful considering her personal relationship with the civil rights icon.

4. Belting out 'Respect' in her hometown

   

   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.

   Read more: Who was Aretha Franklin's preacher father CL Franklin?

   Aretha shows just how incredibly talented she was from such a young age, and made this soul classic her own.

5. Taking on Adele for 'Rolling in the Deep'

   

   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.