18 powerful tributes to Aretha Franklin’s music

by CHRISTOPHER ROSA

PHOTO/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away on Thursday, August 16, at 76 years old in her Detroit home. Franklin was a soul music tour de force who remained a staple on the charts and radio for more than six decades, accumulating 18 Grammy awards along the way. Her legacy is untouchable and will live on forever.

That legacy, of course, includes her vast catalog of hits, which have been covered by just about every singer you can think of—from Britney Spears to Jennifer Hudson to Kelly Clarkson. Several of these women have cited Franklin as one of their biggest inspirations, and these tributes are no doubt a hat tip to her. The Internet has dozens of videos from music’s biggest stars covering Franklin, but here are 18 you should watch immediately. They run the gamut in terms of sound and scope: Some of these covers were performed in stadiums with thousands of people watching, while others are selfie videos. Both are powerful and honor Franklin’s discography in different ways. Listen to them for yourself, below:

Jennifer Hudson

“I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You”

“Respect”

Demi Lovato

“(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”

Kelly Clarkson

“Something He Can Feel”

“Chain of Fools” (with Ledisi)

Britney Spears

“(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”

“Think”

Adele

“(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”

Mariah Carey

“Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)”

Alicia Keys

“I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You”

“(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”

Ciara

“Rock Steady”

Amber Riley

“Ain’t No Way”

“(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”

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