Aretha Franklin reduces President Obama to tears with A Natural Woman performance at 2015 Kennedy Center Honors

The songstress proved she's still got it as she belted out the Carole King number
Moving: Aretha Franklin on stage
Emma Powell30 December 2015
The Weekender

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Aretha Franklin reduced US President Barack Obama to tears as she performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.

Franklin, 73, took to the stage on a piano as she belted out (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman in tribute to honouree Carole King who wrote the song which helped Franklin’s rise to fame in 1968.

The performance – which was filmed on December 6 in Washington D.C, but aired on CBS on Tuesday night – moved Mr Obama who was caught wiping a tear from his eye as his wife, and First Lady, Michelle Obama watched on.

Dressed in a fur coat the singer stood up as she was joined by a troupe of backing singers to finish the famous hit which got Rosie Perez and Gina Rodriguez singing along in the audience.

King, 73, looked ecstatic as Franklin took to the stage, and was seen cheering and waving her arms in the air.

The performance was met with a standing ovation, cheers and rapturous applause from the crowd.

Sara Bareilles also paid tribute to King and performed You've Got a Friend, while Janelle Monae sang Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and One Fine Day, and James Taylor performed a moving rendition of Up on the Roof.

King was one of five honourees at the annual event.

Director George Lucas, actress Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress Cicely Tyson were also honoured.

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