Honors Memories: Aretha Franklin honors Carole King | 2015 Kennedy Center Honors

[@Sttephy30]

She was in her 70's, battling cancer, and still put on an excellent performance. She was able to mix to a G5 here, just amazing.

[@adonaiyah2196]

Really astonishing

[@jxstadri]

Well, what can one say? It's Aretha Franklin my dear. A diva, a queen, an icon, a vocalist out of this world. She's the Queen of soul for a reason.

[@royglim]

A woman who has my R E S P E C T!!!!

[@patriciamccord392]

I loved her my whole teen life and still do.

[@mthai66]

Mixed voice G5 is no joke

[@noatuivunilagi7502]

No debate needed: The Best Kennedy Center Honors Performance Ever!!!!

[@mbadger9084]

🤔I think that you would be CORRECT!

[@tiffa0112]

One of the best

[@jenniferromero3342]

Absolutely!! Hands down!!

[@sweetblaqcoffey962]

Say it AGAIN King!!

[@berlygirl123]

Nope. Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. Aretha made this about her and not Carole King. Heart made it ALL about Led Zeppelin.

[@rehovotingress7202]

Queen sings for King, and left the President and all of us in tears

[@Flargblargyar]

I kind of dislike labeling things as the best ever and whatnot but this is easily one of the greatest performances I've ever seen.

[@clsatc]

I completely agree. And i never use words like "best" either. But i cried over how good this was. This woman is so soulful it is incredible.

[@geraldthesaint5457]

Exquisite. How lucky is Carole to have this fantastic woman giving voice to her song.

[@marthalisk303]

Love Aretha. Lol, she dropped that fur coat like the rest of us drop a bath towel!

[@sweetblaqcoffey962]

THAT did it for me, I was took OUT!!💜💜💜 Continue to Sleep In Him Queen

[@Africa-ky1bg]

What a moment to see the quiet artist Carol King loosing her sh!t with Aretha at the piano & singing the hell out of this song Carol wrote for her with" the 2 Jerry's"... & Seeing POTUS wipe away a tear is spectacular.

[@trevorbrit2300]

When you succeed in moving the President of the United States to tears during a performance you are doing something special!

[@cherray50]

And for five minutes, the country was joyful.

[@MarkJones-zg6si]

I have NEVER been so emotionally moved by a performance in my life! Just another example of why Aretha is THE Queen!!❤️💛❤️

[@lilytony3299]

And me

[@lorikodama8212]

The President shares your feelings as well as anyone fortunate enough to have seen this.

[@patrickganter6294]

This performance sums up why she’s the queen of soul

[@cnmrb151]

Am I the only who's astonished how amazing she plays the piano

[@Peri2C]

Ms. Franklin started out singing and playing piano for her father's large church in Detroit when she was still in school. She signed with Motown after years of gospel choir and piano experience. It's just too hard for those who are solo artists to play and sing and cover the stage while tied to the piano, so they often switch back and forth. This was iconic in part because in her 70s the Queen actually started out playing for herself in a public performance! The man who slid onto the bench when she stood up normally played for her in concerts for many years, so this was a deliberate gift to honor Ms. King because just anybody wasn't going to get Ms. Franklin who was quite ill by this time. Even agreeing to sing, no one expected that she was going to play that piano herself. My late Uncle Van Cephus was told that he was her favorite pianist, and she would have him come play private parties for her family at her house in Detroit. He was trained in classical but professionally played gospel, funk and R&B with big artists for years. To have this lady tell you that you can play piano was such a huge compliment because she could throw down on piano in a way that most never got to see.

[@robertaferugheli4114]

The Queen is singing for the Lord now. Just brilliant. Rest in peace.

[@FirstSPK]

The Queen of Soul is resting her soul in peace, but her music lives on and continues inspiring the young generations.

[@yscott11]

Oh how she is missed!

[@deborahlesco5704]

This was amazing. My boyfriend and I hitched to the Boston Common from Hyannis for a chilly March 1971 concert in the afternoon. Aretha and her grand piano. We didn't have $, but we thought we'd hear her. We walked toward the white canvass tied to the wrought iron fencing and there was a 5 "space. We looked and Aretha was 5 feet away from us in a wide striped yellow and red turban and matching robe. The hardest thing was to not move or clap and be quiet. We didn't want to freak her out. We also hoped the cops wouldn't come along and make us move. She was amazing and no one bothered us!

[@caroh3158]

You can see everyone tearing up with emotion. The man sitting behind Carole King and Obama are so moved.

[@BeverlyAnn58]

Aretha grew up singing in the CHURCH, so that’s what we feel and brings the tears even though it’s secular music! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@Peri2C]

When she sang this, she was very ill and likely knew this might be her last performance before going home to sing for the King of all kings.

[@siwi666]

ridiculous how beautiful and great this performance is. From one song queen to another.

[@sweetblaqcoffey962]

Wonderfully said Sir!

[@kamariatoure42]

Carole King's reaction to Aretha blowing is so funny! "Yes. Go girl. Give it to me"🤣

[@Carballoca]

There was only one Aretha Franklin the Queen Of Soul nobody will ever replace her truly one of a kind....

[@mikewhite4560]

The BEST Performance in KCH History...

[@slane6545]

For me it's all about the Asian guy sitting behind showing pure, raw emotion. 10/10

[@adriagui6923]

Chills! Chills! Chills! Just Wow! No words! A deaf person could feel this performance in their bones!!!

[@davidjensen4702]

What was that burst of energy?! Wow! Aretha put her heart, soul, voice, appreciation love, etc into that tribute to Carole King.

[@merfacapz9561]

I feel like Aretha is the grandma I needed.

[@4orrcountry]

She is - just follow her lead. Aretha left many footprints.

[@Goatllama]

Absolutely impeccable. Standing ovations are oftentimes given too easily; this was not one of those times in the slightest. So fun to see the Obamas, as well! I'm right here tearing up with Barack. 😆

[@marcjacobscontinued9411]

Why are all these lefties applauding like mad for a two-gender supportive tune! Don't understand...... What is a woman? 🙂 And even more precise:"What is a NATURAL woman? 😉

[@lilytony3299]

Carol king must be so loved by Aretha for sure she showed her

[@nostromo7928]

The Queen of Queens. RIP, beautiful Aretha.

[@jamieleebongay4531]

Everyone felt like a natural woman.

[@PeaceFan1]

Aretha Straight Up BLEW Carole King's MIND!!! Truly there is Only ONE ARETHA!!! NO ONE Sang a Song BETTER than her, PERIOD!!! xoxoxoxoxo

[@madyjules06]

not gonna lie I cried watching this knowing there will never be another Aretha Franklin. Bless you Miss Aretha as you blessed all of us with your incredible talent ❤️🙏

[@yscott11]

Me too I cried too

[@QQRREE]

There will only be one Aretha Franklin , just the most powerfull female vocal ever to grace this earth . God Bless

[@jasperpadernilla7954]

The way how people stand when she hit that hight note. That's how you R.E.S.P.E.C.T the Queen of Soul

[@samzshan4451]

That was a iconic proformance all of the time best kennedy center tribute history and future ...!!

[@larrylindgren9484]

I'd say this one and Heart's to Zeppelin were two of the very best. Over shadowing who they were honoring which is saying something.

[@sasyapa]

So true that was masterpiece

[@LilMiss77]

Listen to this version at least once a week. Loved all of their reactions. RIH Queen! Stand up Queen!

[@karenstark9235]

it turned into Kennedy Center Honors Aretha Franklin for a few minutes. they all knew they were in the presence of royalty.

[@robbyel3958]

When she tossed off that fur the audience knew they were in the company of greatness

[@4orrcountry]

Goosebumps, every time!

[@kristencampbell5868]

I have never seen this before. OMG. Amazing!! The performance, the amazing song that Carole wrote and performed…. The standing ovations of just amazing people in the audience… who were amazing in their own right.. the Obamas, Viola Davis… Simply amazing

[@cornstorm666]

I wish we could go back to that time, before the world divided into splinters and labels of hatred..

[@chucklambooy8457]

I could listen to this everyday and also to see my president and his wife so immersed in the performance

[@ryanlehnhoff654]

Oh, to have been in that theater that evening... What a legend!

[@RebeccaLynnMusic]

I'll always remember watching this new. I was absolutely blown away.

[@ranxer0n954]

Every time I hear it, it brings tears to my eyes - what a great performance, what a great artist - those five minutes make me forget all the darkness, all the hatred and racism that has characterized this country in recent years.

[@bob071855]

Yet again, this stunning performance gave me chills...I’ve visited it I don’t know how many times. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏💕💕💕

[@Midrac61]

I'm an old(er) man but I'm not ashamed to say tears welled up.

[@christinadoxstader3004]

I love how Carole is surprised when she starts singing. She wrote it after all but didn't seem to realize what was about to happen

[@drpsett]

She wasn't expecting Ree to play the piano. That's what really took her over.

[@comingout05]

She co-wrote the song with her ex-husband. Jerry Wexler gave them the title.

[@troublessavage]

That's because it was like it was being sung for the first time. How surreal? What a high honor, for someone like Aretha to sing your song

[@r.f.6702]

@@drpsett Exactly. People familiar with Aretha's career know she was a gifted pianist and when she played (which wasn't often enough), it elevated her musicality even further. Carole knew when Aretha sat down to play for her that she was in for something major, and was being paid the highest respect by the queen!

[@vinpepp]

Sadly. we shall never see her like again, i am just so glad i was bought up in the era of ' the queen of soul'

[@06000514]

When i hear and see performances like this i loose control like Carole King, I feel it in my soul.

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

It’d great to have a higher quality version of this posted! A truly transcendent performance from Aretha.

[@cathouseonwashington6870]

If I were there I’d turn myself inside out with emotion. I’m already crying/singing along with this video I’ve already watched about 5 times. Just phenomenal.

[@avarivers8022]

I have watched this sooo many times I've lost count. Best KENNEDY CENTER performance EVER. What a performance.

[@markmh835]

You can all go home now....... The QUEEN has sung. 😁👍🎉

[@PastorHarris]

One of the greatest performers of all times.

[@forrobertrichard]

One of the greatest, if not the greatest, singing performances of all time.

[@24maperti]

What a memory. ❤ It will prevail and future generations will have the privilege of watching this.

[@johnmcginnis8324]

There would be NO Great American Songs without the many Black Folks that contributed their marvelous Talents. Right On , Aretha…..

[@dakingbey]

Period

[@yscott11]

I knew this was one thing that made Americans stand together. Music brought black and whites together, no hate just sharing the common love in music!

[@denisecampbell6736]

Carole was having an out of body experience here. 😁😁. This is one of my all time Favourite Kennedy Centre Moments. Aretha was indeed something special, but this? This was next level Special. Was this Aretha’s last Public Performance? If it was, the Queen truly soared.

[@tangapayne8744]

The Kennedy Center concert hall capacity is 2,465. Every chair was filled. Everyone in attendance that nice rose from their seat for this woman during this performance!!! Little did we know that she would be gone three years later. Continue to Sleep Peacefully, Queen ❤❤❤❤❤

[@mecine1]

RIP Aretha, give respect to the greatest woman!!!

[@jammpr]

Incredible performance!!!! The Queen!!!

[@iceetmarne3571]

Carole and Obama, 2 amazing women of the early 21st century and Carole much on the 20th. God bless you, you make me a feel like a natural...person. x

[@hayesmei22]

Wow. Carol egging her on to keep belting - this whole performance is absolutely incredible. 2 legends

[@Warinphat]

I still have tears in my eyes every time I watch this ever since i first seen it. The world has lost such a great soul but her legacy will live on through her music forever

[@rogerjohnson7001]

I have seen this about 50 times. It never gets old. Simply Amazing.

[@LucelitoJordan-hd2zv]

Having goosebumps listening to Aretha Franklin, such a pro even if battling cancer

[@dannybourne_]

*Stunning....just stunning. THANK YOU WONDERFUL ARETHA.*

[@megger11]

Still gives me chills.

[@kathleendavis7516]

OMG I can't remember how many time that I have watched this performance. Carole King was about to loose her mind. And OUR PRESIDENT AND HIS QUEEN were overcome with the majesty of the moment. For those few of you who haven't seen RESPECT, number one...do it. And number two notice that this clip was the only part of that incredible film that we actually SAW Aretha perform. Gotta go. I have to watch it again. And send it to my Mister (My Sweetheart...I am a 70 year-old widow). And the lyrics of this song are perfect for me and my man

[@cathouseonwashington6870]

Beautifully said.

[@iceetmarne3571]

Pure American soul and beauty. We have missed yo around the world. So glad your back. Come together, make America great Again - so much irony in that statement.

[@postxtito]

OMG~ What a performance, simply Magnificent.

[@sashineb.2114]

Absolutely thrilling! Thank you so much for posting this.

[@susansmith493]

So glad to see Aretha paying tribute to Carole and Gerry. Beautuful.

[@DJFPGH]

Beautiful song, beautiful performance. Two wonderfully talented women who each own a chapter in the legacy of 20th century American music!

[@sydneyalexandralinton8193]

Aretha .. .bringing down the house .... AGAIN!

[@xzld306]

I miss Aretha

[@didimagnin3744]

Thank you Carole! You've given us a musical legacy! Don't be humble!!!!!

[@kimkelly5512]

Queen Aretha, loved seeing Carol's reaction 🥰🥰

[@bethmcavoy1640]

Queen Aretha bring tears to my eyes!

[@bdb352]

Such an amazing performance by an amazing woman. Miss you Queen of Soul!

[@tamcogic4life]

In tears and clapping like I'm in the audience

[@Xenomiggs]

Why do my eyes get teary every time I watch this? Wow. She was a true artist.

[@carolannnorth4095]

ABSOLUTELY! Outstanding! Yes, yes, yes!

[@elizabethapling6748]

There will never be another! The absolute Queen!

[@MustaDujak]

One of the best performances by the greatest of all time.

[@redzoom7857]

My goodness, what a God given talent! Simply amazing! Aretha came and shut it DOWN!

[@markkurasanen1212]

Aretha Franklin 💝💝💝

[@takefum_5771]

映画リスペクトを観ました！エンドロールでこのケネディホールでのアレサフランクリンのパフォーマンスを知りました！ 何度も繰り返し観てしまいます！キャロルキングの喜びやアレサフランクリンの熱唱、最高のパフォーマンスですね！ アップロードしてくれた事に感謝します！ 映画リスペクトの興奮がさめやらない！ 映画アメージンググレイスも観に行かなくては！

[@presidentherberthoover2570]

She had one of the best aged singing voices

[@robertwebb3546]

@presidentherberthoover2570 I appreciate the kindness behind your comment, but, no. Ms. Franklin’s voice significantly diminished in range, timbre, tone and nuance as she aged and faced significant health conditions. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t still an engaging performer, but she was a shadow of her peak. For truly great examples of aging performers who kept their voices into their late 70s and 80s, I’d suggest you listen to Darlene Love, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones. Now, even their vocal register lowered over time, but the power and ability to hold a note without resorting to vibrato remained.

[@krar1587]

She took that fur off so smooth though 😂

[@thediamondlifestyle3177]

The best KC performance ever !!!

[@dannyhamme5581]

I have been watching this every day for a few weeks now, tear up every time, unbelievable, so good,wow

[@jazaicmabaen2929]

Upon seeing you i concluded you are a Filipina by your looks and your family name. And iam not mistaken. Iam so proud of you madam , my kababayan. God bless you more and may you continue to be a blessing to all of us who just love to sing.

[@georgemendezjr.2353]

I still weep every time I experience these precious moments. A true magical moment, still after all these years❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@htetmyataung8336]

Yeah! the is the reason why she was queen 👑 of soul 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@larrylindgren9484]

Was funny to hear Steven Colbert say he didn't want to see Aretha Franklin passed her prime. He sort of said washed up in a way. He wanted to remember the way she use to be. After it was over he said ,"boy I couldn't have been more wrong."

[@4orrcountry]

Like all truly great artists, Aretha wouldn't have done it if she couldn't have delivered.

[@DetectiveGesicht]

The Queen. Always.

[@rushofblood994]

The greatest singer honouring the greatest songwriter

[@susansmith493]

CAROLE composed the music. The gorgeous lyrics were written by Carole's husband, Gerry Goffin.

[@hhhh-xb9py]

Older woman...weak with cancer ...still performs 500 times better then these auto waste of talents today!!

[@Dion_Mustard]

Now listen to her sing this live in 1967...it will BLOW YOU AWAY... I think Aretha's Cousin Brenda is standing at the front of the line of background singers :)

[@grumpyoldman336]

mmm The Queen til the end i always get emotional listening to that angelic voice god bless