It’s no question that Aretha Franklin aka the Queen of Soul is a legend in the music industry. Franklin, who rings in her 73rd birthday today, is the proud owner of 18 Grammys (making the Tennessee native one of the best-selling female artists of all time), a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and has garnered critical acclaim for her larger-than-life voice and chart-topping singles.
Faith Hill, who is a self-proclaimed Franklin super fan, shared her love and admiration for the legend. “There’s something about the way her spirituality comes through her singing—it just tears me to pieces,” Hill told InStyle back in 2006. “She touches a place in my soul that can’t be touched by anybody else. I put Aretha on and I remember why I love singing so much.” In honor of the icon’s birthday, we rounded up a few of Franklin’s key performances, including her take on Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”“Respect” Live in 1967:
“I Say a Little Prayer” Live in 1970:
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the 1972 Grammys:
“You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) at the White House in 1994:
“Nessun Dorma” at the 1998 Grammys:
“Amazing Grace” at the White House in 2014:
“Rolling in the Deep/Ain’t No Mountain” on the Late Show in 2014:
PHOTOS: Most Unforgettable Grammys Performances of All Time