Slim Aretha Franklin gives rare performance at Sir Elton’s charity gala

Franklin was hailed as “the greatest singer of all time” at the star-studded bash
Stage presence: Aretha Franklin performing her hits
Getty Images
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Sir Elton John celebrated the 25th anniversary of his AIDS foundation with a star-studded gala in New York.

The 70-year-old pop star, who has raised more than $385 million since 1992, was praised for his work by former US president Bill Clinton in front of an audience at the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

Mr Clinton said Sir Elton’s charitable work, for which the hitmaker was this week awarded the Harvard Foundation’s Peter J Gomes Humanitarian Award, “will in the end be the most beautiful song he ever wrote”.

Aretha Franklin was hailed as “the greatest singer of all time” as she gave a rare performance at the close of last night’s event, hosted by How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris.

New look: Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation (Theo Wargo/Getty)
Getty Images

Franklin, 75, who has spoken of retiring amid speculation about the cause of her transformative weight loss, showcased hits including I Say a Little Prayer and Freeway.

Alec Baldwin earned loud laughter with his impressions of Mr Clinton and Donald Trump.

Throwback: Singer Aretha Franklin
Reuters

Other performers included Grammy-winning musicians Joshua Bell and Heather Headley.

The star-studded event attracted a host of A-list names from Glenn Close to Sting and Sheryl Crow.

It came hours after John received the Harvard Foundation's Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award for his charitable work.

Speaking at the ceremony he said his life changed when he met Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who became the poster child for HIV awareness during the 1980s AIDS crisis.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Gala in New York

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