The reigning “Queen of Soul” is having her day of R-E-S-P-E-C-T in Chicago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago City Council passed a resolution Wednesday sponsored by Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward) declaring Thursday “Aretha Franklin Day.”
“There are singers,” said Ray Charles in a statement, “then there is Aretha.”
In preparation for her upcoming performance at The Chicago Theater, Chicago celebrates more than six decades of Franklin’s awards and global recognition. Among her achievements, Franklin became the very first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also the second African-American woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine and was the only featured singer at President Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
On Tuesday, Franklin took some time to visit the second half of Oprah Winfrey’s final show and sing “Amazing Grace.”
“When it comes to expressing yourself through song, there is no one who can touch her. She is the reason why women want to sing,” Mary J. Blige said after Franklin placed first in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Franklin will take the stage at The Chicago Theater at 8 p.m. Thursday.
