Aretha Franklin to sing at Obama inauguration

Aretha Franklin to sing at Obama inauguration
By PAULINE JELINEK – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aretha Franklin will sing, the Rev. Rick Warren will pray and more than 11,000 U.S. troops will be watching over inauguration ceremonies in case of an attack during President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in on Jan. 20.

As many as 4 million visitors are expected to be on hand when Obama takes the noontime oath from Chief Justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol.

(snip)

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill will perform a new work composed by John Williams, who also provided music for Obama's election night rally in Chicago's Grant Park. The committee did not release a title for the work by Williams, who is best known for his film scores such as "Star Wars" and "Jaws."

(snip)

Franklin, a living legend with 21 Grammies, performed for President Bill Clinton in 1993, but this would be her first Inauguration. During a Labor Day weekend rally in Detroit, Obama sang a bit of Franklin's "Chain of Fools" to her.

Alexander, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist and Yale University professor, centers her poems and essays on race relations and social movements.

She is only the fourth poet to have a speaking role at a presidential Inauguration. Robert Frost, who was 86 at the time, wrote a poem for Kennedy's inaugural in 1961 but couldn't make out the words of the poem in the sun's glare. Instead, he recited an earlier work. Clinton chose Maya Angelou to write a poem for his first inaugural in 1993, and Miller Williams read "Of History and Hope" at his second inaugural.

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hu8TE83fkG5j6apkrARSSv6SRC0AD954OJMG0

It was the Pistons Vs Lakers Championship series, I remember she was busted and the Detroit media made a bink stink about the issue.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20040619/ai_n12792290

What a disgrace! I'll never be able to listen to her records again. And, damn right the Detroit should make a bink stink about her!

Oh, man, I am simply devastated by this news. I may have to stop listening to anyone who has ever performed with this damn lip-syncer, too.

the point.

Mainly since I could care less if one of the most incredible soul singers of all time lip-synced at a basketball game.

Why anyone would contest his choice of Aretha to sing at his inaugural is beyond me.

Aretha Franklin will be performing in a tribute to Dr King on the 19th as well. The Kennedy Center features a free daily performance on the Millenium Stage which begin at 6 pm. You can also watch online. One free ticket per person will be distributed beginning at 4:00 pm.

I was wondering about her appearing on Oprah, never occurred to me she'd sing at the Inauguration.

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=115

:sarcasm:

She better not have ever uttered a word or sung a song that offends anybody...

Because if she did, the hair-splitters will be all over this thread. :popcorn:

I just found this info out. I'm now in the process of burning all of her records.

than most other "artists" sing an entire concert.

She's amazing.
Julie

Aretha helped me discover music and what it is all about.

You think that they don't have a legitimate reason to be hurt and offended and that they are "splitting hairs"?

Really? Way to dismiss our LGBT friends, dude. :eyes:

I am not religious, but her recording "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" is amazing.

I will be so thrilled to hear her sing for President Obama's inauguration.

Julie

at the HOuse of Blues and she did not allow any AC on in the place. Sweltering in Fl but worth every minute.

How can Obama turn his back on us Wayne Newton fans like that?

:grr:

zy.

:rofl:

Nothing beats the "Queen of Soul."

I saw Itzhak Perlman before! :headbang: AND Yo-Yo Ma!! :headbang: That'll be cool, seeing them together.

We're going to the capital that day, we might have to go the day BEFORE though to get anywhere close to the front.

do what I want?

(Stomps foot, huffs, puffs, snarls)