The Queen of Soul sat back and watched as the assembled talent performed interpretations of her classic hits.
Patti Austin scatted on "I Say a Little Prayer," turning it into an extended jam with a piano solo by Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove on trumpet. When the crowd was slow to sing and clap along, Austin joked: "We got too many white people in here."
Lil Mama did a rap version of Franklin's anthem "Respect." British singer Rae accompanied herself on guitar to "Angel," a 1973 hit written by Franklin's sister Carolyn. Fantasia debuted her new two-toned, shaved-bang combo hair style while performing "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," Ledisi belted "Rock Steady," Carmen Carter teamed with saxophonist Dave Koz for "Think," and John Legend played piano and sang "Day Dreaming."
But it was Caesar who showed up and turned the party out – singing a gospel medley that was backed by a choir and sent everyone to their feet with applause when it was all over.
"Thank you for your wonderful gift. God spared your life to continue to sing and bring joy," Caesar told Franklin.
Bill Cosby was also on hand to show support, telling the crowd that Franklin is "the real deal. This is not fakery, this is not somebody who almost made it. This is somebody who invented it."
"Aretha Franklin is responsible for more female singers working someplace else because they tried to copy her," he said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton brought Franklin to tears with his benediction. "I knew I would need two or three handkerchiefs in my purse and he got me right off the top," she said.
Dressed in a long, white fur coat over a strapless black gown splashed with sequins and a mermaid-like taffeta trim, Franklin took the stage to close the show and sang a medley highlighted by "Chain of Fools." Also sporting a black turban on her head, Aretha sat at a piano to perform "A Woman Falling Out of Love," from her upcoming CD.
"This gown is so tight," she told the crowd. "It took me about 20 minutes to get in the car. I'm not kidding. I tried to get in the car 40 different ways."
Also in the audience were Ne-Yo, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, actors Blair Underwood and John Stamos and producer Jimmy Jam.
Franklin was selected as this year's MusiCares Person of the Year for her achievements as a musician and for her philanthropic work with children's organizations and churches and food banks in the Detroit area. Friday's dinner and auction raised more than $4.5 million for MusiCares, the highest grossing evening in the tribute's 15-year history, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said.
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