Thursday, March 28, 2024

Aretha Franklin Shuts Kennedy Center Down With ‘Natural Woman’; Obama Cries (Watch)

Aretha Franklin performs at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington
Aretha Franklin performs at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington

*CBS on Tuesday aired the “Kennedy Center Honors” special, which was capped by a soul-stirring performance by Aretha Franklin that energized the entire room and had everyone on their feet, visibly moved – most notably, President Barack Obama.

The Queen of Soul sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” as a tribute to Kennedy Center Honoree Carol King, who wrote the tune that became a Franklin classic upon its release in 1967.

Carol King feeling the earth move...under her feet after Aretha Franklin is introduced at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington
Carol King feeling the earth move…under her feet after Aretha Franklin is introduced at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington

Franklin’s presence was a surprise to King, who could barely contain her composure when the 73-year-old legend walked onstage (wearing a floor-length fur coat and carrying her purse) and sat at the piano to perform.

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King looked around in disbelief at all the other guests seated beside her — including the president and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Cameras caught President Obama appearing to wipe a tear from his eye as Franklin belted out the ballad.

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Franklin left the piano halfway through her performance and removed her fur coat to finish the song unencumbered.

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This sent the crowd into even more of a frenzy. She brought the President and First Lady to their feet, along with King, her fellow honorees (George Lucas, Cicely Tyson, Seiji Ozawa and Rita Moreno) and the entire Kennedy Center crowd.

Watch the entire performance below:

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