This week’s airing of the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors showed President Obama in a whole new light after a show-stopping performance from the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
The legendary singer brought the house down during her tribute to singer/songwriter Carole King in Washington D.C. The December 6 show aired Tuesday evening and honored King, Star Wars creator George Lucas, EGOT winner and Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno, legendary actress Cicely Tyson, and composer Seiji Ozawa.
Each entertainer had fitting introductions from Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Gina Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg, and Yo-Yo Ma, respectively. Aretha’s performance came after tributes by Janelle Monae, who sang “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “One Fine Day,” James Taylor, who performed “Up on the Roof,” and Sara Bareilles, who sang “You’ve Got A Friend.”
King co-wrote Franklin’s hit “Natural Woman” in 1967. The single went on to become one of her most-recognized songs. As she stepped onto the stage in a classic gown-fur coat ensemble, Aretha sang the tune and played the piano, bringing the President to tears.
King and First Lady Michelle Obama were also loving the performance, which got a standing ovation from the crowd.
Obama wasn’t the only one shedding a few tears. The Trip to Bountiful actress Cicely Tyson was also left overwhelmed after a performance of “Blessed Assurance” by CeCe Winans and Terrence Blanchard.
Check out Franklin’s performance above and more details behind the show here.
SOURCE: NY Daily News | VIDEO CREDIT: YouTube, Instagram | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
21 Of President Barack Obama's Best Photos Of 2015
21 Of President Barack Obama's Best Photos Of 2015
1. JANUARY: President Obama delivers the State of the Union address with the support of vice president Joe Biden. Obama gained mass support after his joke about winning both terms.
Source:Getty
1 of 21
2. JANUARY: President Barack Obama has an adorable moment with Akira Cooper at the Community Children's Center, one of the nation's oldest Head Start providers, in Lawrence, Kan.
Source:Pete Souza
2 of 21
3. JANUARY: President Obama greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon arrival at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi, India.
Source:Pete Souza
3 of 21
4. JANUARY: President Barack Obama greets neighbors after visiting a model home at the Nueva Villas at Beverly, a single-family housing development owned by local nonprofit organization Chicanos Por La Causa Inc. in Phoenix, Ariz.
Source:Pete Souza
4 of 21
5. FEBRUARY: President Barack Obama fakes a jump shot during an Affordable Care Act video taping for BuzzFeed in the White House Library. The video went viral thanks to jokes about his presidency and ultra-cool swag.
Source:Pete Souza
5 of 21
6. FEBRUARY: Obama pals around with one of his biggest supporters, vice president Joe Biden. While he chose not to run in the 2016 presidential election, Obama said he would be in his corner.
Source:Pete Souza
6 of 21
7. FEBRUARY: President Barack Obama talks with 13-year-old student Vidal Chastanet as "Humans of New York" founder Brandon Stanton photographs during a blog interview in the Oval Office. Obama was greatly inspired by Chastanet's comments on the popular "Humans of New York" Instagram page, where he shared his troubles finding courage in school and and life despite living in a dangerous area of Brooklyn, NY.
Source:Pete Souza
7 of 21
8. MARCH: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama join hands with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. as they lead the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches, in Selma, Ala., March 7, 2015. Malia and Sasha Obama join hands with their grandmother, Marian Robinson.
Source:Pete Souza
8 of 21
9. MARCH: Obama is a classic man as he puts on a green tie in observance of St. Patrick's Day.
Source:Pete Souza
9 of 21
10. MARCH: President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.
Source:Pete Souza
10 of 21
11. APRIL: During the Correspondents' Dinner, his anger translator - played by Key & Peele comedian Keegan-Michael Key - helped Obama get out his biggest frustrations.
Source:Pete Souza
11 of 21
12. APRIL: President Obama arrives in Jamaica to meet with the 15-member Caribbean Community. His trip marked a first for the sitting president and second since the country's independence.
Source:Getty
12 of 21
13. APRIL: Obama speaks with newly appointed Attorney General Loretta Lynch in the Oval Office.
Source:Pete Souza
13 of 21
14. JUNE: President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are seen talking during the president's trip to the G7Summit in Bavaria, Germany.
Source:Getty
14 of 21
15. JUNE: President Obama sings "Amazing Grace" during the eulogy for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney during Pinckney's funeral service. Clementa was one of the nine victims who died after suspected shooter Dylann Roof entered the AME church and opened fire.
Source:Getty
15 of 21
16. SEPTEMBER: President Obama is featured on the popular show "Running Wild With Bear Grylls." Obama took the trip to highlight the importance of climate control.
Source:Getty
16 of 21
17. SEPTEMBER: The First Couple serve as "love goals" at the White House's state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan. Obama and Xi announced an agreement on controlling climate change and a mutual outlook on cyber security.
Source:Getty
17 of 21
18. OCTOBER: President Obama meets with Ahmed Mohamed, the student who was detained by Texas police for his homemade clock. The president stood by the teen, who many believe was the victim of Islamophobia.
Source:Getty
18 of 21
19. NOVEMBER: President Obama issues a warning to his critics who "pop off" at his policies towards Syrian refugees. Speaking at the OP 21 United Nations conference on climate change, Obama welcomed his Republican critics to the White House to lay down their own policies. No one has responded.
Source:Getty
19 of 21
20. DECEMBER: President Obama addresses the public from the Oval Office regarding the San Bernardino shooting.
Source:Getty
20 of 21
21. DECEMBER: All grown up! The First Family, including Obama's mother-in-law Marian Robinson, is seen at the White House's national Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 2.
Source:Getty
21 of 21
Continue reading 21 Of President Barack Obama’s Best Photos Of 2015
21 Of President Barack Obama's Best Photos Of 2015
Aretha Franklin Brings President Obama To Tears During Electrifying Kennedy Honors Performance was originally published on globalgrind.com
