The Grammys’ Aretha Franklin Tribute: Fantasia, Andra Day and Yolanda Adams Will Honor the Queen of Soul

What better way to honor the Queen of Soul than to bring some of the best voices in the music industry together on music’s biggest night? The Grammy Awards will honor the late, great Aretha Franklin on February 10, and they’ve enlisted the help of some huge stars to make it happen. Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Andra Day and Yolanda Adams will all participate in the tribute.

So far, it hasn’t been announced which songs the trio will be performing, but we expect it to be a medley, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see them honor the singer with her hits “Respect,” “A Natural Woman” or “I Say A Little Prayer,” but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Of course, Aretha sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, at 76 years old, but she was honored by the Grammys long before she passed and was luckily around to see it. In 2011, she was honored by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Florence Welch, and Yolanda. The long list of icons came together to sing “A Natural Woman,” “Ain’t No Way,” “Until You Come Back to Me,” “Think,” “Respect,” “Spirit in the Dark” and “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves.”

But those actually aren’t the last of the tributes for Aretha. Though the Grammys will only have three stars honoring the legend at the awards, they also announced that she will get her very own special in 2019. Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul was announced in December of 2018, taped on January 19 and will air sometime this year. The show will be hosted by Tyler Perry and will feature performances and words by Yolanda, Shirley Caesar, Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, BeBe Winans, Brandi Carlile, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., Janelle Monáe and SZA.

“For more than six decades, her extraordinary artistic achievements coupled with her passionate dedication to her philanthropic work — which ranged from children’s and artists’ issues to civil rights activism — served as a testament to her power, majesty, and genius,” said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. “These gifts positioned her as a true cultural icon, and the Recording Academy is honored to celebrate her inspirational legacy.” We can’t wait to tune in!