Watch Reba McEntire’s ‘Respect’ Cover at 1988 CMA Awards
On her 1988 album Reba, Reba McEntire includes two covers: One is "Sunday Kind of Love," made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, and the other is Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Later that year, McEntire performed the latter at the CMA Awards; readers can press play above to watch that performance.
"[McEntire's] style has been influenced by such great people as Patsy Cline, and even Merle Haggard," explained Dolly Parton when introducing McEntire's CMA Awards performance, "but when it comes to the soul part of the singing, she says her main influence has been Aretha Franklin."
Reba, released in April of '88, was a major chart success for McEntire -- it stayed at No. 1 on the country albums chart for six consecutive weeks and has been certified platinum -- but critics chastised its more-polished and -produced sound. Nevertheless, two of its singles, "I Know How He Feels" and "New Fool at an Old Game," also hit No. 1 on the charts.
Franklin, known as the "Queen of Soul," died on Thursday (Aug. 16) at her home in Detroit, Mich., according to her publicist. She was 76 and was reported to be "gravely ill" earlier in the week.
"I’ve had so many influences in my life, and one of them is the Queen of Soul," McEntire said on Twitter, sharing her CMA Awards performance, after news of Franklin's death broke. "Rest In Peace, Aretha. I’ll sing this one for you."
The first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Franklin charted more than 100 singles on Billboard's charts and won 18 Grammy Awards. Her iconic songs include "Respect," "Think" and many more.
Aretha Franklin: Through the Years