Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Celine Dion, John Legend & Others Pay Tribute to Aretha Franklin

Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Celine Dion, John Legend, SZA and Janelle Monae will be paying respect to the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The Recording Academy and music mogul Clive Davis will put on the special concert -- "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" -- on Jan. 13 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event will broadcast later in 2019 on CBS.

Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Kelly Clarkson are some of the other artists who will also be singing some of Franklin's biggest hits at the concert. Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry will host the event.

"This special will celebrate Aretha Franklin's numerous accomplishments as an entertainment icon, singer, songwriter, pianist, actress and civil rights activist," said Jack Sussman, executive vice president, specials, music and live events, CBS Entertainment. "Aretha had an incredible effect on humanity and music with her indomitable spirit and grace. We look forward to honoring this music legend with numerous performers who all admire and respect the 'Queen of Soul.' "

"Aretha Franklin's reign as the 'Queen of Soul' is incomparable and undisputed," said Neil Portnow, president/CEO of the Recording Academy. "For more than six decades, her extraordinary artistic achievements coupled with her passionate dedication to her philanthropic work - which ranged from children's and artists' issues to civil rights activism - served as a testament to her power, majesty and genius. These gifts positioned her as a true cultural icon, and the Recording Academy is honored to celebrate her inspirational legacy."

"We're approaching this show with extremely mixed feelings of sadness and joy, two qualities that over my 37 years of working with Aretha were often present," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of AEG Ehrlich Ventures. "Our hope is that we will be able to share the remarkable musical and cultural accomplishments of the 'Queen of Soul' through her own words and music, as well as through the performances of an amazing group of musical artists who will gather to celebrate her amazing musical heritage."

"I am thrilled to have the Recording Academy and CBS as partners in this global tribute to my very dear friend Aretha Franklin," Davis said. "Aretha was more than the 'Queen of Soul'; she was a national treasure. This unique concert - featuring many of today's greatest artists - will celebrate Aretha in a spectacular manner befitting her once-in-a-lifetime talent."

Tickets go on sale Friday. Other performers include Common, BeBe Winans, Brandi Carlile, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R. and Alessia Cara.

Franklin died of pancreatic cancer in August in her Detroit apartment. She was 76.

 

 

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