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Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry 

News
Tyler Perry: Aretha's Voice Is "Universal" tyler-perry-talks-doing-madea-impressions-aretha-franklin

Tyler Perry Talks Doing "Madea" Impressions For Aretha Franklin

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Tune into "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sunday, March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS to see the actor and comedian on host duties
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 4, 2019 - 11:52 am

No one can say no to the Aretha Franklin, especially not actor and comedian Tyler Perry, who will host the star-studded show, Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul, airing on Sunday, March 10 on CBS and features performances from Patti LaBelle, Common, Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Hudson,  John Legend and more. 

So when The Queen of Soul called Perry up and said, "I wanna talk to Madea," he immediately got into role. "Can't say no to Aretha," he told the Recording Academy, before doing an impression of his beloved grandmother character: "Hellur?"

Tyler Perry Shares Memories Of Aretha And Madea

"Her voice was so universal and so strong and so powerful ... You could be from some small island in the south pacific and never heard her sing and hear her voice and know, wait a minute this woman is special. Her voice was the raising of the flag for all of us," Perry continued. 

Tune into "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sunday, March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS to see Perry on host duties and the tributes that will honor the queen. 

Patti LaBelle On Her Hero, Aretha Franklin: "She Was The Greatest Singer In The World"

GRAMMYs

Shirley Caesar

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Shirley Caesar Honors Aretha Franklin With Gospel shirley-caesar-honors-aretha-franklin-through-gospel-music

Shirley Caesar Honors Aretha Franklin Through Gospel Music

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The singer performs "Mary, Don't You Weep" along with Yolanda Adams and BeBe Winans on "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," airing on March 10
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 6, 2019 - 1:05 pm

GRAMMY-winning gospel icon Shirley Caesar pays tribute to her longtime friend, the late Aretha Franklin, during the "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" airing on March 10.

"Aretha was my friend, we traveled together when we were children, we sang together," she said. "I am so glad, I am so glad that everybody, that all of these different organizations, if you will, are remembering her because she was such a blessing."

Shirley Caesar Honors Aretha Franklin With Gospel

Caesar will pay tribute to the legend's gospel roots. "Aretha comes from a background of preachers and singers and so she could not help, but be the person that she was when it comes to gospel," she said.

The singer performs "Mary, Don't You Weep" along with Yolanda Adams and BeBe Winans. She told the Recording Academy backstage during the taping earlier this year: "I know I can't sing it like her, but I can Caesrize it, you know."

Tune in this weekend to see all the special moments celebrating the icon. "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" will air on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Sneak Peek: Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, Alicia Keys, Common & More Celebrate Aretha Franklin

GRAMMYs

Patti LaBelle

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Patti LaBelle Pays Tribute To Aretha Franklin patti-labelle-her-hero-aretha-franklin-she-was-greatest-singer-world

Patti LaBelle On Her Hero, Aretha Franklin: "She Was The Greatest Singer In The World"

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Watch LaBelle pay tribute to her hero with a "Call Me" cover
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Feb 28, 2019 - 11:30 am

What does one legend have to say about another? GRAMMY-winning singer Patti LaBelle had admirable words for the late soul icon Aretha Franklin at the taping of "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," airing on CBS on Sun. March 10.

"She was a solid performer. She never stopped giving," LaBelle said. "She was the greatest singer in the world, to me. She's my hero and so many others' hero, she is." 

Patti LaBelle: No One Can Channel Aretha Franklin

Franklin died last August, and, as a tribute to the late performer, artists including Common, Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and more came together to sing some of her greatest songs. Regarding the performances, LaBelle, who sang "Call Me" at the celebration, shared more wisdom:

"You can't channel Aretha. Heck no. You just go up there and pray that she loves you," LaBelle said. "Ain't no channeling the queen, honey."

Tune into "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sunday, March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS to catch LaBelle's full performance. 

Smokey Robinson Honors "Lifelong Friend" Aretha Franklin With Moving Speech

GRAMMYs

Jennifer Hudson

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Jennifer Hudson Doesn't Take Aretha Tribute Mildly jennifer-hudson-honoring-aretha-franklin-i-dont-think-any-singer-would-take-it-lightly

Jennifer Hudson On Honoring Aretha Franklin: "I Don't Think Any Singer Would Take It Lightly"

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The GRAMMY winner pays tribute to the Queen of Soul this Sunday March 10
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Mar 8, 2019 - 1:00 pm

During the taping of "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," GRAMMY-winning singer Jennifer Hudson took a minute backstage to appreciate the moment she and other music stars created in honor of the late Aretha Franklin. 

"I don't even think I can really put it into words how much it means to me, most of all to just be able to pay tribute to the queen," she said. "I don't think any singer would take it lightly."

Jennifer Hudson Honors The Queen Of Soul Aretha

Hudson sang "Think," "Respect" and "Ain't No Way," as Common, Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and more covered the Queen of Soul's greatest hits. 

Tune in this Sunday to watch all the special moments celebrating the icon during "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," airing on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Sneak Peek: Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, Alicia Keys, Common & More Celebrate Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

News
Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, More Honor Aretha patti-labelle-john-legend-sza-alicia-keys-common-more-celebrate-aretha-franklin

Patti LaBelle, John Legend, SZA, Alicia Keys, Common & More Celebrate Aretha Franklin

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Artists across generations and genres convened to celebrate the beloved singer's life with moving performances and tributes at "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 5, 2019 - 10:41 am

On Jan. 13, 2019, the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles was filled with cheers, laughter and some tears as dozens of stars took to the stage to pay tribute to the late GRAMMY-winning icon Aretha Franklin with a special concert called Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.

Hosted by actor and comedian Tyler Perry, the talent-filled show featured performances from artists spanning generations, including Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, SZA, Janelle Monáe, John Legend, Yolanda Adams, Common, Alessia Cara, Brandi Carlile, Chloe x Halle, Celine Dion, Fantasia, H.E.R. and more.

Brandi Carlile, Jennifer Hudson, More Honor Aretha

Moving Musical Tributes

Every tribute had the packed auditorium either dancing or swaying in their seats; at times the crowd was even moved to standing ovations. As recent first-time GRAMMY winning R&B artist H.E.R. said during her backstage interview, "I don't know one singer that doesn't listen to Aretha Franklin."

H.E.R. brought out her guitar and silky vocals as she sang "I Say A Little Prayer For You." Meanwhile, Fantasia hit all the high notes with grace as fellow GRAMMY winner Rob Thomas joined her for a lively duet of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," Aretha's 1986 song with GRAMMY winner George Michael.

H.E.R. Honors Aretha Franklin

GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams also gave two stunning performances, one a rousing nod to Aretha's gospel choir beginnings with a moving medley with fellow GRAMMY-winning gospel singers Shirley Caesar and Bebe Winans.

Earlier in the evening, GRAMMY-winning rapper and social justice advocate Common joined her for a powerful performance of "Young, Gifted And Black," which brought the whole crowd into a booming standing ovation. The song was originally written and recorded by Nina Simone and covered a few years later by Aretha as the GRAMMY-winning title track for her 18th studio album.

Patti LaBelle: No One Can Channel Aretha Franklin

Performers also included GRAMMY-nominated R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle, who sang "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves" in coordinating sparkly fringe dresses. GRAMMY-winning Godmother Of Soul Patti LaBelle took it home as she wowed with "Call Me" in a shimmery black pantsuit number. She closing the song singing "We love you Aretha, we'll never forget you," to another standing ovation.

Alicia Keys and John Legend bookended the evening with their powerful voices and mesmerizing piano skills, Keys offering a medley with GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer SZA while Legend took on "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

More Aretha Accolades

In addition to performances from Aretha's admirers and peers, the show featured moving speeches and archival footage, which offered background to the songs and recounted milestones from Aretha's career, including videos of her singing at both Bill Clinton's and Barack Obama's Presidential inaugurations.

Fellow GRAMMY-winning, Detroit-raised music icon Smokey Robinson even took it way back as he shared the heartfelt story of meeting a six-year-old Aretha, whom he said would go on to become his "life-long friend" and the "Princess Of Soul." Another longtime friend and music industry icon, GRAMMY-winning producer and all around legend Clive Davis, also gave a powerful speech, asserting "there will never ever be another Aretha."

Stay tuned to GRAMMY.com to watch several full performances from the evening, to be released soon.

You can also sign up for our newly relaunched weekly newsletter and subscribe to our YouTube channel for keep up with all of our fresh GRAMMY video content and news.

Aretha Franklin's GRAMMY History: Remembering The Queen Of Soul

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.