Some of the biggest names in gospel music honored the late Aretha Franklin at the 2018 American Music Awards last night in an unforgettable performance befitting for the Queen of Soul.
Ricky Minor directed the tribute that featured Gladys Knight, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans and Ledisi in a soul stirring medley of the Aretha’s Gospel hits.
Gladys Knight revealed just how blessed she feels to be honoring her childhood friend — an artist who will live on forever.
“I am so very honored to have known her since we were both little girls,” she said. “The fact that her music has been so pure for all of these years — she touched everybody with her music simply because she chose it with her heart, she didn’t choose anything she didn’t believe.
“I’m the same way in the industry, so we had those things in common, as well,” she added. “She deserves this recognition, this tribute, all of these things for being around for this long.”