*The pope will wrap his visit to the U.S. with a two-day stay in Philadelphia, where Aretha Franklin is scheduled to sing for him at Saturday’s Festival of Families concert.
And she will come bearing gifts.
The Queen of Soul said she’ll present the pope with a box set of sermons by her father, civil rights activist C.L. Franklin. “Almost everything that he recorded is in that set,” she told The Associated Press Wednesday.
She’s one of several singers, including Andrea Bocelli and Juanes, set to perform during the pope’s historic visit to the U.S.
He arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, and will visit New York on Thursday and Friday before ending his trip in Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday.
Franklin, who has performed for presidents, civil rights leaders and a host of luminaries, sang for Pope John Paul II when he visited Detroit in 1987. “When I was called to sing, his motorcade was just coming into Hart Plaza, so I don’t know if he heard the performance or not, but the P.A. system was so loud, I’m pretty sure he did,” she said.
Franklin praised the current pope for his attention to the poor: “He impresses me in just being a very, very kindly pope.” Franklin said she felt “most appreciated” to be included in the concert.
“Just to be held at this level of esteem at this juncture of my career is really great,” she said.
Franklin plans to sing “Amazing Grace” and another song she declined to reveal: “I’ll let you be surprised.”
She chose “Amazing Grace” for its universal appeal. She sang it on her best-selling live gospel album of the same name decades ago.
“Amazing Grace” is also the name of a documentary that director Sydney Pollack made of Franklin recording the classic album. It was due to be released this year, but Franklin has gotten an injunction to prevent its release. She declined to talk about the case, saying a gag order was in effect.
Franklin said she would be doing select concerts this year, then plans to slow down and spend more time with her grandchildren. She added that she is in talks with record labels to record new music.
“I cannot wait to get back into the studio.”
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