Fantasia Barrino, Yolanda Adams & Andra Day perform moving Aretha Franklin Tribute at 2019 Grammys
The recently-held Grammy Awards saw a variety of artist performances, but none was quite as soul-stirring as the Aretha Franklin tribute delivered by Fantasia Barrino, Yolanda Adams & Andra Day. Fans have registered their mixed reactions to the tribute on social media.
Barrino, Adams, and Day, three vocal powerhouses, took to the stage on Sunday evening to honor the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
The three women came up at the end of the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” segment, and, performing Franklin’s 1967 hit, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” took the audience home.
Barrino, 34, Adams, 57, and Day, 34, stood side-by-side as they each took verses before belting out lyrics of the chorus in unison.
Infusing their individual, soulful touches to the classic, the three women held their audience spellbound and received a standing ovation from many attendees at the end of their rendition.
“I cannot believe that I stayed up for a one-song Aretha Franklin tribute.”
Franklin died of pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, at the age of 76.
Gospel singer, Adams, previously paid tribute to the late Queen of Soul at the 2011 Grammys when she joined other singers for a 10-minute rendition of several Franklin hit songs.
“American Idol” winner Barrino, has likewise paid tribute to Franklin before now. She was one of the artists chosen to perform at the late legend’s funeral on August 31 in Detroit, Michigan where she delivered a breathtaking rendition of “Dr. Feelgood.”
Adams shared a clip of their performance to her Twitter page with the caption:
“Thank you so much for the wonderful comments about the #ArethaFranklin tribute I performed with #Fantasia and #AndraDay at the #GRAMMYs”
While many social media users raved over the moving tribute, others felt it didn’t do justice to the memory of Franklin.
“I’m sorry. Aretha Franklin is one of the most if NOT the most decorated, talented, influential artists in the history of music,” wrote one Twitter user. “The Grammys gave her a ONE song tribute. Trash.”
Another called out the tribute, saying: “I cannot believe that I stayed up for a one-song Aretha Franklin tribute.”
There is, however, another tribute dedicated to Franklin. Last month, Adams and a host of other singers including John Legend, Patti LaBelle, Common, and Céline Dion teamed up for “Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul.”
The taped show will reportedly air March 10 on CBS.