Madonna led an impassioned tribute to “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin on Monday as the music world paid its R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to the superstar at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The show came four days after 76-year-old Franklin died of pancreatic cancer and the industry used the telecast to send Franklin off in style.
“I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the Queen.She led me to where I am today, and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight,” said Madonna, who turned 60 last Thursday — the day Franklin died.
The immeasurably talented queen of soul, Aretha Franklin, in 2015 made former US president Barack Obama shed tears.
The revered songstress who died on Thursday, 16th of August 2018 got Obama emotional with her melodious rendition of ‘Natural Woman’.
The then US president and his wife Michelle sat in a jam-packed theater during the Kennedy Centre Honours to watch the now late Franklin perform.