Aretha Tribute Launches Grammy Weekend

John Legend, Lil Mama, Corinne Bailey Rae and gospel singer Shirley Caesar paid their "Respect" to Aretha Franklin in a musical tribute to the Queen of Soul.

They joined Fantasia, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove in launching Grammy weekend by honoring the 65-year-old R&B diva as MusiCares Person of the Year.

Surrounded by music industry titans Clive Davis, Quincy Jones and Berry Gordy, Franklin listened Friday night to interpretations of some of the biggest hits of her lengthy career.

Austin scatted on "I Say a Little Prayer," turning it into an extended jam with a piano solo by Hancock and Hargrove on trumpet, while Franklin nodded her head in time to the music. 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 feminist anthem "Respect." British singer Rae accompanied herself on guitar to "Angel," a 1973 hit written by Franklin's sister Carolyn. Fantasia, sporting a startling patch of white in her black hair, sang "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," and Ledisi performed "Rock Steady."

Carmen Carter teamed with saxophonist Dave Koz for "Think," the song Franklin performed in "The Blues Brothers" movie. Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi danced along dressed as the movie's title characters.

Legend played piano and sang "Day Dreaming" before Caesar turned the hall into a revival meeting. Backed by a choir, she growled and prowled the stage during a gospel medley that earned a standing ovation.

"Thank you for your wonderful gift. God spared your life to continue to sing and bring joy," Caesar told Franklin.

Before launching into a brief standup routine, Bill Cosby told the crowd they were honoring "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.

Franklin was the night's final performer, taking the stage to a standing ovation.

"It took us about six days to get out here from Detroit," she said, referring to her famous fear of flying. "I'll be flying next week. If I ever wanted to fly again, I do now. I know how the people in covered wagons felt."

Franklin launched into a medley, highlighted by "Chain of Fools." She sat down at the piano to play and sing "A Woman Falling Out of Love," from her upcoming CD.

After being driven into the Los Angeles Convention Center hall on a golf cart, Franklin shed a long, white fur coat to reveal a strapless black gown splashed with sequins and a mermaid-like taffeta trim. A black turban topped her head.

"This gown is so tight," she said. "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 is up for her 18th Grammy on Sunday, nominated for gospel performance for a duet with Mary J. Blige. The show will air live from Staples Center.

She was honored Friday for her achievements as a musician and for her philanthropic work with children's organizations and churches and food banks in the Detroit area.

The 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.

MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides financial assistance to individuals in the music industry during times of need.