{"id":30354,"date":"2026-06-27T07:26:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T07:26:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=30354"},"modified":"2026-06-27T07:26:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T07:26:35","slug":"the-moment-aretha-franklin-dropped-her-fur-coat-the-entire-room-erupted-and-by-the-time-she-finished-even-president-obama-was-on-his-feet-applauding-through-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=30354","title":{"rendered":"\u201cTHE MOMENT ARETHA FRANKLIN DROPPED HER FUR COAT, THE ENTIRE ROOM ERUPTED\u2014AND BY THE TIME SHE FINISHED, EVEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS ON HIS FEET, APPLAUDING THROUGH TEARS.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A\u00a0slew of performances at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., that aired on CBS Tuesday\u00a0night paid tribute to a\u00a0group of honorees\u00a0that ranged from \u201cStar Wars\u201d filmmaker George Lucas to Broadway actress and singer Rita Moreno.<\/p>\n

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But only one performance brought President Barack Obama to tears. And that was before the fur drop.<\/p>\n

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Singer-songwriter Carole King, 73, was one of the six honorees to receive 2015 Kennedy Center Honors in a year-end gala in the nation\u2019s capital. Among the hundreds of compositions credited to her is 1967\u2019s \u201c(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,\u201d a single co-written by King and made famous by soul singer Aretha Franklin.<\/p>\n

\"Aretha<\/p>\n

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Tuesday night, Franklin took the stage and sang what has become a staple for the Queen of Soul. From the moment Franklin appeared on stage in a floor-length fur coat, it was a master class in how to be a diva.<\/p>\n

Franklin commanded the piano.<\/p>\n

King gesticulated wildly in approval.<\/p>\n

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Not even a minute into the performance, the camera cut to President Obama wiping away a tear. (The soul singer performed\u00a0at his 2009 inauguration.)<\/p>\n

Halfway through the song, Franklin walked away from the piano, still singing.<\/p>\n

She dropped her coat, revealing a glittering gown.<\/p>\n

The cheering audience rose to its feet before the song even ended in a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

\"Aretha<\/p>\n

In November, the National Portrait Gallery awarded Franklin with a \u201cPortrait of a Nation\u201d prize. PBS NewsHour co-anchor Gwen Ifill\u00a0sat down with the 73 year old\u00a0to talk about her storied career.<\/p>\n