Watch Some of Aretha Franklin's Greatest Live Performances

The beauty of Aretha Franklin and her majestic voice has spanned decades. She has given us some of the most heartfelt music ranging from the 1960's to today. American author and journalist, Richie Unterberger, has described Franklin as being "one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged." The artist released her first album at the young age of 14 where she debuted her vocal flexibility and interpretive intelligence. 

Aretha grew up in her father church, New Bethel Baptist Church, where she would frequently take the stage and perform. The young star taught herself to play the piano by mere practice alone. She later went on the study piano at Julliard School of Music in 1998. 

Her most recent performance was in New York City on November 7th, 2017 during Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 

Aretha is the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the first woman to have 100 songs on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Check out some of her most notable performances below. 

1967 -- "Respect" -- Amsterdam concert

1968 -- "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" -- funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1968 -- Aretha Franklin Sings At The Democratic National Convention

1970 -- I Say A Little Prayer: her very best performance

1971 -- "Bridge Over Troubled Water" -- Grammy Awards 

1977 -- "God Bless America" -- inauguration gala of President Jimmy Carter

1993 -- "I Dreamed a Dream" -- inauguration ball of President Bill Clinton

1998 -- "Nessun Dorma" -- Grammy Awards, stepping in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti, completely unrehearsed.

2006 -- "Star-Spangled Banner" --Super Bowl

2009 -- "My Country 'Tis of Thee" -- President Barack Obama's inauguration.

2014 -- "Rolling in the Deep / Ain't No Mountain Live Adele Cover Version" -- David Lettermann Show


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