Aretha Franklin News

Franklin records new version of inauguration song

AP, Feb 5, 2009 2:00 pm PST
President Barack Obama took a do-over on his oath of office. Now the Queen of Soul is following his lead.

Aretha Franklin has recorded a "preferred version" of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," the song she performed at Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Franklin said in a statement Thursday that she wasn't able to give her "very best" in the ceremony's cold weather. Franklin says she wants fans to have the best possible version of her singing the song.

The single will be released this week. It will be available online through iTunes, Rhapsody and other outlets.

More Artist News

Aretha Franklin cancels Brown Univ. appearance

May 20, 2009 8:00 am PDT

Brown University officials say Aretha Franklin will miss the school's commencement because of a family emergency. The university announced Wednesday that a representative for the "Queen of Soul" called to say a family emergency would keep...

Aretha gave Obama collection of dad's sermons

Jan 23, 2009 10:00 am PST

Aretha Franklin did more than sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration. She also came bearing gifts. Her spokeswoman, Gwendolyn Quinn, says Franklin gave Obama a collection of 17 sermons by her late father,...

Requests flood in for 'Queen of Soul's' custom hat

Jan 22, 2009 4:00 pm PST

The calls began to flood Luke Song's hat shop not long after Aretha Franklin finished belting out "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Franklin, who wore a gray felt custom-designed hat from Mr. Song Millin...

Aretha Franklin warms up for inauguration

Jan 20, 2009 3:00 am PST

Aretha Franklin punched her fist in the air and yelled, "Tomorrow!" She didn't need to say Barack Obama's name. The crowd roared its approval. It was an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day concert, not an inaugural event, but thoughts of Ob...

Aretha Franklin to sing at Obama inauguration

Dec 18, 2008 6:00 am PST

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 milli...

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