Thursday, December 27, 2018
Alessia Cara,
Brandi Carlile,
SZA and
John Legend are among the artists who will pay tribute to
Aretha Franklin in a televised concert being produced by
The Recording Academy,
AEG Ehrlich Ventures,
Clive Davis and
CBS.
Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul will be filmed 1/13 at the
Shrine Auditorium; CBS will air the special later in the year. Presale tickets go on sale (use code Aretha) Friday; general tickets go on sale Monday.
Other announced performers are
Yolanda Adams,
Shirley Caesar,
Kelly Clarkson,
Common,
Celine Dion,
Jennifer Hudson,
Alicia Keys,
Patti LaBelle,
BeBe Winans,
Chloe X Halle,
H.E.R. and
Janelle Monáe.
Tyler Perry is the host. More performances will be announced in the coming weeks.
"We're approaching this show with extremely mixed feelings of sadness and joy, two qualities that over my 37 years of working with Aretha were often present," said
Ken Ehrlich, Executive Producer of AEG Ehrlich Ventures. "Our hope is that we will be able to share her remarkable musical and cultural accomplishments through her own words and music as well as through the performances of an amazing group of musical artists who will gather to celebrate her rich musical heritage."
Franklin received 18 Grammys in her lifetime and was the 2008
MusiCares Person of the Year.
"Aretha Franklin's reign as the Queen of Soul is incomparable and undisputed," said
Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "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. These gifts positioned her as a true cultural icon, and the Recording Academy is honored to celebrate her inspirational legacy."