in Los Angeles, the Recording Academy celebrates the life and music of Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul. Featuring performances by: A salute to Aretha's gospel roots with... All hosted by: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jennifer Hudson. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) How y'all doing? Y'all ready to celebrate the queen tonight? Here we go. # You better think # Think # Think about what you're trying to do to me # I said think # Think, think # Let your mind go let yourself be free # Let's go back, let's go back # Let's go way on way back when # I didn't even know you # You couldn't have been too much more than ten # Just a child # I ain't no psychiatrist I ain't no doctor with degrees # But it don't take too much IQ # To see what you're doing to me # You better think # Think # Think about what you're trying to do to me # Say now think # Think, think # Let your mind go let yourself be free # You need me # Need me # And I need you # Don't you know # Without each other there ain't nothing we can do # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Freedom # Yeah # Whoa! # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) I came to celebrate the queen. I don't know about you. And this right here... is my favourite. Oh, but bear with me. # Well She said, # Ain't no way (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) # For me to love you # If you won't # Let me # How can I, how can I, how can I # Give you all the things I can # If you're tying both of my hands? Listen here. # Stop trying to be # Someone you're not # How cold and cruel is a man # Who paid too much for what he got? # And if you need me to love you, # Say, say you do # Oh then please, # Please # Please # Don't you know that I # Need # You? # Ain't no way # No way # For me # For me to love you # Oh # If you # If you won't, if you won't (VOCALISES) # If you won't # Let me (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) # Hey! # Now, it's time for y'all to get up and celebrate. Let me see! Here we go! # What you want # Baby I got it # What you need # You know I got it? # All I'm askin' # Is for a little respect when you come home # Just a little bit # Hey Baby # Just a little bit # When you get home # Just a little bit # Hey # Just a little bit # I ain't gonna do you wrong # While you're gone # I ain't gonna do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna # But all I'm askin' # Is for a little respect when you come home # Just a little bit # Hey baby # Just a little bit # When you get home # Just a little bit # Hey y'all know this one # Here we go # Just a little bit # R-E-S-P-E-C-T # Find out what it means to me # R-E-S-P-E-C-T # Take care, TCB, hey # Sock it to me sock it to me # Sock it to me # A little respect # Hey # Just a little bit # A little respect # Just a little bit # Ay ya ya hey # I got to have # Just a little bit # Hey # Just a little bit # I got to have # Hey # Respect whoa # R-E-S-P-E-C-T # Find out what it means to me # R-E-S-P-E-C-T # Take care take care # Take care and respect me # Oh yeah! # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, your host, Tyler Perry. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) TYLER: Thank you. Welcome to Aretha: A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) I tell you, you talk about respect. Jennifer was Aretha's choice to play her in an upcoming biopic, and we just saw why. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Right? What a way to kick off our remembrance of the queen of soul. You know, I was raised on Aretha Franklin. My mother would always play Aretha's music, and I learned that I could tell if my father had done the right thing by what song she was playing. (LAUGHTER) Really, if she was playing 'Respect' or 'Think', usually, my father had done something wrong. (LAUGHTER) But if I walked in the house and an Aretha song was on, my mother was playing things like 'Dr Feelgood', my daddy had done something right. (LAUGHTER) I hate the thought of my parents having sex. Anyway, um... (LAUGHTER) Listen, all of my life, Aretha Franklin spoke to me through the airwaves, so you can imagine my shock when I got a phone call one day. This woman called, she said, 'Hi, this is Aretha Franklin.' I was like, 'Huh?' She said, 'I want to talk to Madea.' I said, 'Well, you know she's not real, right?' (LAUGHTER) And she goes, 'I don't care. Put her on the phone. So, I said, AS MADEA: 'Hello, how you doing? 'Good to talk to you. Hello.' (LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE) Aretha was not the kind of woman you said no to, so that's why from that day until this one, Aretha, Madea and I became friends until the very end. (LAUGHTER) Aretha Franklin had a voice for the ages and she used that gift to heal us, to soothe us, to seduce us, to inspire us, and to take us to church, and only a genius could do that, sometimes it was all at the same time. And so, tonight, the Recording Academy has invited some of the great artists in music to show their respect and celebrate the legacy of our queen of soul who dreamed a dream and somehow made it all come true. (APPLAUSE) Oh yes, I had a dream. # I had a dream # Of days gone by # When hopes were high # And life worth living # I dreamed that love # Would never die # Then I dreamed that God # Would be forgiving # Then I was young # And I was unafraid # And dreams were made # And used and wasted # There was no ransom # To be paid # No song unsung # Nothing was wasted # Then the tigers # Come at night # With their voices soft as # Thunder # As they tear your dreams apart # As they turn your dreams # To shame # Shame, shame... I know you'll be watching me from the windows of heaven and I promise to carry our family legacy with pride and joy. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Great artists like Aretha have the power to bring people together and tonight, Aretha's spirit is bringing together two one-of-a-kind artists. Here to set it off, the magnificent Alicia Keys. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) It was always my dream to sing this song. # I'm # Gettin' the spirit # In the dark # In the spirit # In the dark # People movin' # Oh people groovin' # In the spirit # In the dark # In the dark # Yeah # It's like Sally Walker # Sittin' in a saucer # Ain't nothing to it # That's how we do it # Ride Sally ride # Put your hand on your hips # And cover your eyes # And move # To the spirit # Come on and move # To the spirit # Come on and move # To the spirit # Everybody move # To the spirit # Ride Sally ride # Put your hands on your hips # And cover your eyes # And move # To the spirit # Come on and move # To the spirit # Come on and move # Hey # Yeah # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Ladies and gentlemen, it's such a blessing being here tonight with you. I'd like to introduce my sister, SZA. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # He's the kind of guy that would say # Hey baby let's get away # Let's go some place oh # Where I don't care # He's the kind of guy that'll give you everything # You trust your heart share all of your love # Till death do us part... Get it, girl. # I want, I want, # I want to be what he wants # When he wants it and whenever he needs it # Say when he's lonesome and feelin' love-starved # I'll be there to feed him # I'm lovin' him a little bit more each day # Turns me right on when I hear him say # Hey baby let's get away # Let's go somewhere far # Baby can we # Where, I don't care # Hey baby let's get away # Let's go somewhere far # Baby can we # Where, I don't care # Daydreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you # Daydreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you # Daydreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you # Daydreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) You know, we're so blessed to be here tonight. This is my sister, SZA. I love you, girl. We're honouring the queen. Our sister, and we realise that sisterhood is all that matters. It brings us through so much, so we wanted to sing this one right here. You know it. # Like sweet morning dew # I took one look at you # And it was plain to see you were my destiny # With my arms open wide # I threw away my pride # I'll sacrifice for you, dedicate my life to you # I will go where you lead # Always there in time of need # And when I lose my will # You'll be there to push me up the hill # There's no # No looking back for us # We got love it's sure 'nough # That's enough # You're all # You're all I need # You're all # You're all I need # You're all # You're all I need to get by # You're all I need to get by... Oh, I see y'all out there, now, feeling so good. Come on, stand up with me. # All I need Sing it with me. # All I need. # Oh, you're all I need # You're all I need # To # Get # By. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) We love you, Aretha! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Aretha set the stage for so many of today's great artists, including this next one, who is about to rock this place. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms Janelle Monae! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Whoo # Rock steady, baby # That's what I feel now # Let's call this song exactly what it is # Just move your hips with a feeling from side to side # Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride # While you're moving, rock steady # Rock steady, baby # Let's call this song exactly what it is # What it is, what it is, what it is # It's a funky and lowdown feeling # What it is # In the hips from left to right # What it is # What it is is I might be doin' # What it is # This funky dance all night # Put your hands up in the air # Gotta feeling and ain't got a care # Don't you wanna take this ride # Rock steady will only slide # Rock steady # Rock steady baby # Rock steady # Rock steady baby # Just move your hips with the feeling from side to side # Sit yourself down in your car and take a ride # While we're moving rock steady # Rock steady baby # Let's call this song exactly what it is # What it is, what it is, what it is # It's a funky and lowdown feeling # What it is # In the hips from left to right # What it is # What it is I might be doin' # What it is # This funky dance all night # Put your hands up in the air # Gotta feeling ain't got a care # Don't you wanna take this ride # Rock steady will only slide # Rock steady # Rock steady, baby # Rock steady # Rock steady, baby # Hey! Yes, sir. Y'all better play. One, two, three, hit it! # Rock # Steady # I said rock oh # Steady # What it is # It's a funky and lowdown feeling # What it is # In the hips from left to right # What it is # What it is is I might be doing # What it is # This funky dance all night # Hey # Whoo # Hey. # We love you, Aretha. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) * # Mary, don't you weep NARRATOR: Aretha Louise Franklin, who would become recognised around the world as the queen of soul, was born in Memphis on March 25, 1942. # Listen, baby... NARRATOR: After her parents split when she was six, young Aretha grew up in the Baptist churches where her father, the Reverend CL Franklin preached. It was at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit that young Aretha first shared her voice, becoming a star soloist and meeting gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke, then of The Soul Stirrers. # I guess you must be... NARRATOR: By the time she was 18, Aretha was signed to Columbia Records as a secular singer. Yet it was after signing to Atlantic Records in 1966 that Aretha was able to fully demonstrate her true genius as a vocalist and musician with a stunning series of soulful hits including 'Respect', 'Chain Of Fools', and 'Think' that transformed her into true musical royalty. # Knew you'd be a vision in white # How'd you get your pants so tight? # NARRATOR: At the dawn of the 1980s, Aretha enjoyed another tremendous wave of success after signing with Clive Davis to Arista Records, where the queen reintroduced herself to a whole new generation of loyal subjects with a series of hits that updated her classic sound for the video age, including her smash 1988 album, 'Who's Zoomin Who' that featured unforgettable hits like the title track and the chart-topping 'Freeway Of Love'. (APPLAUSE) Please welcome Andra Day. I know y'all know this one. Feel free to get out of your seats. # Knew you'd be a vision in white # How'd you get your pants so tight # I don't know what you're doin' # But you must be livin' right # Oh, we got places to see # I brought all my maps with me # So jump in, ain't no sin # Take a ride in my machine # City traffic movin' way too slow # Drop the pedal and go # Go # Go... Here we go. # We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love # Wind's against our backs # We ridin' on the freeway of love # In my pink Cadillac # City traffic's movin' way too slow # Drop the pedal and go # Go # Go # We goin' ridin' on the freeway of love # Wind's against our backs # Ridin' on the freeway of love # In my pink Cadillac # We ridin' on the freeway of love # Wind's against our back # Ooh, riding on the freeway # Of love in my pink Cadillac # Freeway! # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Please welcome a three-time Grammy-winner and 15-time nominee ` Kelly Clarkson. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Aretha Franklin had a once-in-a-lifetime voice that helped so many others like me to find their own voice in this world. Aretha's shining example of not just soul but of strength is what has inspired and will keep inspiring artists of all generations. I'm so honoured to get to sing my favourite Aretha song tonight, her first number one RnB hit for Atlantic Records, recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This is 'I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You'. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # You're a no good heart breaker # You're a liar and you're a cheat # And I don't know why # I let you do these things to me # My friends keep telling me # That you ain't no good # But oh, they don't know baby # That I'd leave you if I could # I guess I'm uptight # And I'm stuck like glue # 'Cause I ain't never No, I ain't never # I ain't never loved # Loved a man # The way that I love you # Some time ago I thought # That you had run out of fools # But I was so wrong # You got one that you'll never lose # The way you treat me is a shame # How could ya hurt me so bad? # Baby, don't you know that I'm the best thing # That you'll ever have? # Kiss me once again baby # Don't ya never, never say that we're through # 'Cause I ain't never # No, I ain't never # I ain't never loved # Loved a man # The way that I love you # I can't sleep at night # I can't eat a bite # I guess I'll never be free # Since you got # Your hooks in me # Whoa, oh, oh # Yeah yeah # I ain't never loved a man, baby # Ain't never had a man hurt me so bad # No # No, yeah # Yeah # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: To sing Aretha's classic duet with Eurythmics, 'Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves', please welcome sisters, Chloe and Halle. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Now there was a time # When they used to say # That behind every great man # There had to be a great woman # Well, in these times of change # You know that it's no longer true # So we're comin' out of the kitchen # 'Cause there's somethin' we forgot to say to you # Sisters are doin' it for themselves... If you love Ms Aretha Franklin, stand up on your feet. I want to see all your love. # Now this is a song # To celebrate # The conscious liberation of the female state # Mothers and daughters and their daughters too # Woman to woman # Don't you know we're singin' for you # Everybody # Everybody # Take a look around # Take a look around # Can't you see, can't you see, can't you see # There's a woman right next to you # Sisters are doin' it for themselves. Hey! # Standin' on their own two feet # And ringin' on their own bells # Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh # Sisters are doin' it for themselves # Sisters are doin' it for themselves # You know # You know # You know # I know # Sisters are doing it, doing it, doing it # Don't you know # Don't you know # Don't you know they're doing it # We're doing it for ourselves. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) We love you, Ms Aretha. Thank you. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) * # What you want # Baby I got it # What you need # You know I got it # All I'm asking # Is for a little respect when you get home # Just a little bit # Baby # Just a little bit # When you get home... NARRATOR: Aretha Franklin didn't just sing 'Respect', she demanded respect, and so it seems only fitting that this daughter of a preacher man and civil rights activist in Detroit, herself became a crucial part of the soundtrack of the civil rights and feminist movement in the '60s. Aretha's version of 'Respect', first written and recorded by Otis Redding... # What you want you got it... ..took on an even deeper meaning as an anthem for Black America and for women too. # All I'm asking # Want a little respect when I get home... NARRATOR: As Aretha once explained, she liked Otis Redding's version of the song but 'I felt I could bring something new to it.' Indeed she did. Aretha's version of 'Respect' with her sisters, Carolyn and Erma on background vocals with the added refrain of 'Sock it to me, sock it to me' packed a serious punch, rising to number one for 12 weeks in the middle of 1967. Throughout her life, Aretha stood up for what she knew was right. A sister doing it for herself and for all of us too. # And oh... NARRATOR: She sang 'Precious Lord, Take My Hand' at Martin Luther King's funeral in April 1968, having previously travelled America with him on his voting rights campaign. # And where my father died... ..and nearly 40 years later, Aretha sang 'My Country Tis Of Thee' on the National Mall at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. 'Aretha helped define the American experience', the Obama's said in a statement after Franklin's passing. 'In her voice, we could feel our history. 'All of it and in every shade. 'Our power and our pain. 'Our darkness and our light. 'Our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.' (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Throughout her life, Aretha Franklin confronted so much change. She stood with her father, the Reverend CL Franklin and Dr Martin Luther King Jr to stand up for change in this country during the civil rights era and she faced so many trying changes in her own lifetime, including losing her father, her brother Cecil, her sisters, Carolyn and Erma and yet, Aretha Franklin always managed to come through the storm artfully, pouring her heart, soul and pain into a rich lifetime of performances. This next timeless song was written and first recorded by Sam Cooke, who Aretha met when she was just a child. Aretha released her version in 1967. Here to sing 'A Change Is Going To Come'... (CHEERING) Yeah. One of the greatest voices in the world. A five-time Grammy Award winner. I love this woman. Ms Celine Dion. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # There's an old friend that I once heard say # Something that touched my heart # And it began this way # I was born # By the river # In a little tent # And just like the river # I've been runnin' ever since # He said it's been a long time comin' # But I know my change is gonna come # Oh yeah # He said it's been too hard livin' # But I'm afraid to die # I might not be here if I knew what was up there # Beyond the sky # It's been a long # A long time comin' # But I know my change has got to come # Oh yeah # I went # I went to my brother # And I asked him, brother # Could you help me, please? # He said, good sister # I'd like to but I'm not able # And when I, when I looked around # I was right back down # Down on my bended knees # Yes I was, oh # There've been times that I thought # I thought that I wouldn't last for long # But somehow right now # I believe that I'm able I'm able to carry on # I tell you that it's been a long # And oh, it's been an uphill journey all the way # But I know, I know, I know # I know my change is gonna come # Sometimes # I had to cry all night long # Yes I did # Sometimes # I had to give up right # For what I knew was wrong # Yes # Yes, it's been an uphill journey # Ooh yeah # It's sure's been a long time coming # Yes it has # It's been real hard # Every step of the way # But I believe, I believe # This evenin', a change is gonna come # Yes it will # A change is gonna come # Yes it will. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Don't play that song for me # 'Cause it brings back memories # Of days that I once knew # Those days that I spent with you... NARRATOR: Please welcome a ten-time Grammy Award winner who earned his 29th Grammy nomination this year. John Legend. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Thank you. Tonight, I am honoured to salute the queen by singing a song on which she demonstrated her genius as an interpretive singer, musician and arranger. Now, Paul Simon has said this might be the best cover version ever of one of his songs. So, we're going to cover her cover version tonight. (LAUGHTER) Thank you, Aretha for your example of what it means to be a true singer, a true artist who offered us all a bridge over troubled water. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Don't trouble the water # Hey # Leave it alone # Why don't you, why don't you, let it be # Still water # Still water run deep # Yes # Yes it do # Oh yeah # When you're down and out # Oh, when you're on the street # When evening falls # So hard # I will comfort you # I'll take your part # Oh # When darkness comes # And pain is all # All around # Like a bridge # Over troubled water # I will lay me down # Like a bridge # Over troubled water # I will lay me down # Don't trouble the water # Oh # Leave it alone # Why don't you, why don't you # Let it be # Still water # Still water run deep # Hey # Yes it do # Oh yeah # Sail on silver girl # Oh sail on by # Your time has come # To shine # All of your dreams are on their way # See how they shine # And if you ever need a friend # Need a friend # Look around # I'm sailing right, right behind # Like # Like a bridge # Like a bridge # Over troubled water # Over troubled water # I will ease your mind # And like a bridge # Over troubled # Over troubled water # I will lay me down # Like a bridge # Over troubled water # I will lay # Me down # Ooh. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Thank you. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Here is three-time Grammy winner, Brandi Carlile. You know, Aretha Franklin once said, 'It really is an honour' 'if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person.' 'It means that I've done my job.' Well, thank you, Aretha, for doing that job so well for so many artists in every genre. I am one of them. This is 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man'. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Take me to heart # And I'll always love you # And nobody # Can make me do wrong # Take me for granted # Leaving love unsure # Makes willpower weak # And temptation strong # A woman's only human # You should understand # She's not just your plaything # She's flesh and blood just like her man # And if you want # A do-right-all-day woman # Woman # You've got to be # A do-right-all-night man # Man # A woman's only human # And you should understand # She's not just your plaything # She's flesh and blood # Just like her man # And if you want # A do-right-all-day woman # Woman # You've got to be # A do-right-all-night man # Man # You've got to be # A do-right-all-night man. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) (MELLOW ELECTRONIC MUSIC) There's something inside Kiwis that makes us believe a boat can fly or that a yacht race can become a cycling event,... that makes us happy to live outside our comfort zone and turn a mighty challenge into a fighting chance. Maybe you gotta be a bit mad. Some people might even call us a bit crazy. * # I'm adding to his # Chain chain chains... NARRATOR: Aretha Franklin understood well the power of collaboration, recording and performing with so many other notable artists... # Chain chain chains... ...from Ray Charles to The Blues Brothers to Elton John. # And let us live # And we live in peace... NARRATOR: Aretha recorded 'Jumping Jack Flash' with Keith Richards, 'I Knew You Were Waiting' with George Michael and 'Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves' with Eurythmics. Aretha sang with Whitney Houston, James Brown, John Legend and Stevie Wonder. # Oh # You make me feel ...and more than 20 years ago now, back in 1998, Aretha ruled again on stage at VH1 Divas Live with Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Carole King... # Hey yeah # You make me feel # Hey ...Mariah Carey and Gloria Estefan. Even in the company of her most famous subjects, the queen of soul always knew how to reign. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Everybody get up on your feet. Get up on your feet. Come on. NARRATOR: Here to sing 'I Knew You Were Waiting For Me', please welcome Fantasia and Rob Thomas. # Like a warrior that fights and wins the battle # I know the taste of victory # Though I went through some nights consumed by the shadows # I was crippled emotionally... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Somehow I made it through the heartache # I know you did # Yes I did # I escaped # I found my way out of the darkness # I know you did # I kept my faith # Kept the faith # I kept my faith # When the river was deep, I didn't falter # When the mountain was high, I still believed # When the valley was low, it didn't stop me # Oh # I knew you were waiting # I knew you were waiting for me # So we were drawn together through destiny # I know this love we share was meant to be # I knew it # Knew you were waiting # Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah # Knew you were waiting # I knew that you were waiting # Knew you were waiting # For me # I didn't falter # I didn't falter, no # I still believed # Oh, I still believed # It didn't stop me # I knew it, I knew it, yeah # Knew you were waiting # I knew you # I knew you were waiting for me # I didn't falter # When the mountain was high # I still believed # Oh, when the valley was low # It didn't stop me # Nothing's going to stop me now # Yeah # Knew you were waiting # Knew you were waiting for me # Oh # Knew you were waiting # Knew you # I knew you were waiting for me # For me, yeah. # Oh, yeah. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, a Grammy-winning legend. Smokey Robinson. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Wow. Thank you. Thank you very much. In my life, Aretha Franklin was not just the queen of soul. She was kind of like the girl next door. In fact, she was the girl right around the corner. When I was eight years old, Aretha moved from Buffalo, New York with her family, her two brothers, her two sisters, her mum and her dad, to the north end of Detroit where I lived. (APPLAUSE) Thank you. (LAUGHS) Detroit! (LAUGHS) Many times on Aretha's back porch, we would have talent contests. Most of the time, Aretha would win. (LAUGHTER) 'Cause as far as I was concerned, she was already the princess of soul. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) And it wasn't long before Aretha became a game-changing sensation. She was a gifted songwriter, a fantastic musician, and a great political activist. And she was the queen of soul. (APPLAUSE) But for me, she was always my little sister who I loved so much. I still love her so much. But she's gone home now to be with our father. Aretha and I knew each other so well for so long. People ask me, 'Why didn't you guys ever record together?' We used to talk about it. But we unfortunately never got around to it. But we did sing together a lot of times, but it was impromptu. I mean, I would go see her in concert somewhere and she would call me up on stage and we'd sing something or she would come and see me somewhere in concert and I'd call her up and we'd sing something. In fact, the last time we sang together, they were doing a tribute to her on television and I was there and I was singing one of my songs, 'Just To See Her' and she got up and came and sang it with me. And we had so much fun. And like the song says, it was so great just to see her again. Just to be with her. I miss you, babe. I love you. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Can't find anyone to take your place # I've got to see you again... Don't do that, baby. # I would do anything # I would go anywhere # There's nothing I wouldn't do # Just to see you again Smokey Robinson walked out here so cool, I want to walk like that. I mean, he was just so cool. (LAUGHTER) Stevie Wonder co-wrote and sang this love song back in the 1960s, but Aretha made it her own in 1973. Here to sing 'Until You Come Back To Me', last year's Grammy winner for best new artist, Alessia Cara. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Thank you, Aretha. Your music continues to inspire and teach us. We love you. # Though you don't call anymore # I sit and wait # In vain # I guess I'll rap on your door # Your door # Tap on your window pane # Tap on your window pane # I wanna tell you, baby # Changes I've been going through # Ooh # Missing you, listen, you # Till you come back to me, that's what me I'm gonna do # Oh, yeah # Living for you, my dear # Is like living in a world of constant, constant fears # Hear my plea # Hear my plea # I've got to make you see # Make you see # That our love is dying # Our love is dying # Although the phone you ignore # Somehow I must # Somehow I must explain # I'm gonna rap on your door # Your door # Tap on your window pane # Tap on your window pane # I'm gonna camp by your steps # Until I get through to you # Ooh # I've got to make you change your view, baby # Till you come back to me, that's what I'm gonna do # Oh, yes I am # Till you come back to me, that's what I'm going to do # Till you come back to me, that's what I'm gonna do # I'm gonna rap on your door, tap on your window pane # Tap on your window pane # I'm gonna rap on your door tap on your window pane # Tap on your window pane # Oh, till you come back to me # That's what I'm gonna do. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Thank you. Thank you very much. NARRATOR: Please welcome a great couple of actors. Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, Angela Bassett and Emmy and Tony winner, Courtney B Vance. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) 50 years ago this year, Nina Simone released 'To Be Young, Gifted And Black'. (APPLAUSE) Written in memory of her friend, Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote the play 'A Raisin In The Sun' and died at the age of 34. In 1972, Aretha made 'Young, Gifted And Black' the title track of her 18th album which became a top ten and Grammy-winning hit. Here to perform it tonight in honour of a queen, two Grammy winners. Four-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) ...and three-time Grammy winner, Common. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # To be # Young # Gifted and black # In this whole world you know # There are millions of boys and girls # Who are young, gifted and black # With their souls intact # And that's a fact # You are young, gifted and black # We must begin to tell our young # There's a world waiting for you # Yours is a quest that's just begun # When you're feeling real low # Here's a great truth that you should remember # And always know # That you are young, gifted and black # And you've got your soul intact # Come on, and that's a fact # When you are young # Gifted and Black # Yeah # Young # Gifted and black... Ladies and gentlemen, Common! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) RAPS: # Here we go, here, here we go again. # Trayvon would never get to be an older man. # Black children, their childhood is stole from them, # robbed of our names and our language. # Stole again. Who stole the soul from black folk? # Same man that stole the land from cheap black smoke and # made the whip crack along our backs low, # made us go through the back door # and raffled black bodies on the slave lots. # Hot damn, Black America again, # bigger central plan as I'm staring in the wind # the colour of my skin they comparing it to sin, # the darker it gets, the less fairer it has been # the hate, the hate made I a heretic for them # but I ain't gonna point the finger, # we got to anoint the singers like Aretha, Marvin, Billy, Stevie. # Need to hear them songs sometimes to believe me. # Who'd free me? Lincoln or Cadillac? # Drink and I battle rap. # So, it's at Godspeed that we travel at, # the danger to my own habitat # Your guns and dope, man. # Y'all can have it back. # 'Cause if you are young, gifted and black, young gifted and black # We all gifted and black, we all gifted and black, # We all gifted and black, we all gifted and black. # Yo, Yolanda, yo, take it back. # Young, gifted and black # You are young, gifted and black # Young, gifted and black young, gifted and black # Young, gifted and black # We are young, gifted and black # Young, gifted and black # Young, gifted and black Young, gifted and black # Yes, yes. # When you are young, gifted and black... # Young, gifted and black # Keep the soul intact. # Make the people react. We young, gifted and... # Young, gifted and black! # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Here to sing 'I Say A Little Prayer', a top ten hit for Aretha in 1968, is a five-time Grammy award nominee this year. She is the real deal, y'all. This is HER. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # The moment I wake up # Before I put on my make-up # I say a little prayer for you # While I'm combing my hair now # And wondering what dress to wear now # Wear now # I say a little prayer for you # Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart # And I will love you # Forever and ever, we never will part # Oh how I love you # Together, together, that's how it must be # To live without you # Would only mean heartbreak for me # I run for the bus, dear # And while riding, I think of us, dear # Us dear # I say a little prayer for you # At work, I just take time # And all through my coffee break time # Break time # I say a little prayer for you # Forever # Forever # And ever # You'll stay in my heart # And I will love you # Forever # Forever # And ever # And ever # We never will part # Oh how I love you # Together, together # Together, together # That's how it must be # To live without you # Would only mean heartbreak for me # Nobody but me # My darling, believe me # Believe me # For me, there is no one but you # Please love me true # I'm in love with you # Answer my prayer babe # Answer my prayer now, baby # Answer my prayer # Say you love me true # Answer my prayer # Oh, answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Answer my prayer # Please # Answer my prayer # Oh # Together forever, that's how it must be # To live without you # Would only mean heartbreak for me... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # For me. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) * Just as the '60s were becoming the '70s, Aretha Franklin heard two lovers on the street, talking, and it inspired her to write this next romantic song. I don't know why Aretha was listening to them people talk. That was none of her business. (LAUGHTER) So, here to sing 'Call Me' for the queen of soul, backed by this great house band led by Mr Rickey Minor... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) ...I am thrilled to welcome a Grammy-winning legend. Ladies and gentlemen, the godmother of soul, Ms Patti LaBelle! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Ooh # Ah # Ooh # I love you # Said I love you # Know I love you baby # Call me # The moment you get there # Hey baby # My dearest # My dearest of all # Darling # Ah ooh # I said I know, I know, I know # We've got to part # Ah ooh # Oh baby baby baby baby baby # It really doesn't hurt me that bad # Oh no # Because you're taking me with you # And I am keeping you # Right here in my heart # All because I love you # I say # That I love you # Call me # Call me # The moment you get there baby # Oh, will you do that? # Will you do that for me? # Now call me # Call me # Call me # Don't forget about me # Don't forget about me baby # 'Cause I love you # Call me # The moment # Stand there # I # Call me # Oh # Don't you dare, don't you dare # Forget about me baby # Baby # Baby # Ooh # The moment # The second # The hour # Oh we'll never forget about you queen # Queen Aretha # I # Said I love you # Aretha Franklin # Yes # Ooh # Ah # Ah. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) My roots are, uh, religious. I was a member of my dad's church. I joined the church at age 10, and I was baptised at about the age of 10. The gospel and the church certainly provided for me a training ground as a singer, as well as listening to the word regularly. NARRATOR: For many, a high point of Aretha's entire life in music was her live album, 'Amazing Grace.' Recorded over two nights in January, 1972, at the New Temple Baptist Missionary Church in Los Angeles. And amazingly, 2018 finally saw the release of Amazing Grace, the documentary concert film from 1972 that forever captures Aretha sharing her gospel truth. There are two things that were really important to Aretha. One is faith and the other's family, and we've got to acknowledge her family here tonight. You guys stand up. The Franklin family is here. Let's show some love. Show some love. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) We want to thank you so much for sharing your loved one with us. We all love the queen of soul. The gospel truth is that Aretha Franklin and Amazing Grace have always gone hand in hand, and at long last, Amazing Grace is the title of a newly-released documentary brought to us by producer Alan Elliott. I've seen it. It's amazing. (APPLAUSE) So, right now, to take us all to church in honour of Sister Aretha Franklin, three Grammy-winning artists. These are gospel greats for all ages ` Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar and BeBe Winans! (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # I have heard # Of a land # On the far away strand # 'Tis a beautiful home # Of the soul # Built by Jesus # On high # Where we never # Shall die # 'Tis a land where # We'll never # Grow old. # Never grow old # Never grow old # In a land where # We'll never # Grow # Old # Never # Never # Never grow old # We'll never # Never grow old (CHUCKLES) My mama used to sing this. # 'Tis a land where # We'll never # Grow old. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Please welcome Shirley Caesar, the First Lady of gospel. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # Don't mourn, don't mourn # Pharaoh's army # Pharaoh's # Army # Hallelujah # All of his men got drowned # Oh, Mary # Hallelujah # I heard Jesus when he said, 'Mary' # Mary, don't you weep # Heard him say # 'Mary' # Mary, don't you weep # Don't weep # Oh, oh # Tell her, 'Don't you mourn' # # Praise! (VOCALISES) # NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, BeBe Winans. # Oh # What a friend # What a friend we have in Jesus # All # Our sins and griefs # To bear # Oh # And what # What a privilege # A privilege # To carry # Carry # Oh, every, every, every # Everything to God in prayer # Oh, yes we do # But oh, # what peace we often forfeit # Oh, # Oh! What needless pain we bear # Oh, yes we do # And it's all # All because # Because we do not carry # Do not carry # Take him every # Not one or two, but everything # Take him # All of your problems # Take 'em all # Everything, anything # Take Him all that your did # Everything # Cos he can handle it # Oh, everything # To God in prayer. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) # How I got over # How I got over # How I got over # How I got over # Because my soul looks back and wonders # How I got over # How I got over # How I got over # How I got over # How I got over # My soul look backs in wonder # How I got over Sing this, Shirley! # Just as soon as I see Jesus # Oh yes # The man that made me free # Oh yes, oh yes # He was the man that bled and suffered # Who died for you and me # Oh yes # I wanna thank you for what you brought me # Yes, Lord # I wanna thank you for what you taught me # Yeah, yeah # I wanna thank you for why you kept me # And you never, never, never, never left me # And I wanna sing # Hallelujah # I might just shout this evening # Trouble over # And I wanna thank you for all you've done for me # How I got # Over # Over # Over # Over # My soul look back and wonder # How I got over # Over # Sayin' how I got over # Over # He brought me through # Over # My soul # Soul look back and wonder # Soul look back # My soul # Soul look back and wonder # Do you look back? # My soul look back and wonder # Wonder # Hey, hey # Wonder # My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my # Soul look back # My, my, my, my soul look back # How I got over # Soul look back and wonder # My soul # Soul look back and wonder # Hey, yeah # Soul look back and wonder # My soul # Look back and wonder # Hey # I made it over # I made it over # I made it over # Yeah! # I made it over # Yeah, yeah! # Oh, yeah! # I made it over # Yeah! # Oh, yeah, yeah # We made it over. # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) NARRATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, the president and CEO of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow. On behalf of the Recording Academy, thank you for being a part of Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul. Have you been enjoying our night for Aretha? I bet you have. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Now, to make this celebration fit for a queen, we were thrilled to partner with a legendary friend of the Academy, and actually, my former boss, who knew and loved Aretha so well and played such an important part in her extraordinary career. Please join me in welcoming the Chief Creative Officer for Sony Music and the recipient of our Grammy Trustee and Industry Icon awards, Mr Clive Davis, everybody. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) My heartfelt... My heartfelt thanks to you, Neil, to the Recording Academy, and to Ken Ehrlich. Nearly four decades ago, I began my personal collaboration with Aretha. This evening, you've seen time and again her incredible influence and impact on artists of all ages, across many genres, and across generations. So, to each of you young people out there tonight, those that had never seen Aretha, never had a chance to see Aretha in concert, go online, watch, absorb, study every one of her performances. She's timeless, she's peerless. She is truly one of a kind. So, without question, I have absolutely no hesitation saying tonight there will never, ever, never, ever be another Aretha Franklin. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) This has been a wonderful night, hasn't it? It's been a wonderful night. Wonderful night. (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) I gotta tell you, the last time that I saw Aretha perform was at the Kennedy Centre Honours and she walks out on stage and she has that purse that she always carried. That purse full of cash with her. (LAUGHTER) Aretha sat down at that piano and she started to sing and before she got halfway through that song, everybody in that room was on their feet. She brought us to our feet so we could bow to the queen of soul. (APPLAUSE) I tell you. (APPLAUSE) I was sitting up in the balcony with President Obama and he turns to me and he goes, 'That's why she's the queen of soul.' So, tonight, we have tried to celebrate and honour the queen of soul in the best way we could. There is no better way to end this night than with the song that has become an anthem for natural women everywhere. (CHEERING) Here to send us all home singing, 'You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman' is Fantasia... (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Uh-huh. Alessia Cara... Brandi Carlile... and Andra Day. # Looking out on the morning rain # I used to feel so uninspired # And when I knew I had to face another day # Lord it made me feel so tired # Before the day I met you # Life was so unkind # But you're the key to my peace of mind # 'Cause you make me feel # You make me feel # You make me feel # Like a natural woman # And when my soul was in the lost and found # You came along to claim it # I didn't know just what was wrong with me # What was wrong with me # Until your kiss helped me name it # Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for # And if I make you happy I don't want to do more # 'Cause you make me feel # You make me feel # You make me feel like a natural woman # Woman # Oh baby # What you've done to me # You make me feel so good inside # Good inside # And I just want to be close to you, close to you # You make me feel alive # You make me feel # You make me feel # You make me feel # Like a natural woman # You make me feel # You make me feel # You make me feel # Like a natural woman # You make me feel # You make me feel # You make me feel # Like a natural woman # You make # You make me feel # Like a natural woman # Natural woman # Woman # Whoa yeah # Woman! # (APPLAUSE AND CHEERING) Captioned by Ai-Media ai-media.tv Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020