@qwest_tv: Aretha Franklin sets the Paris Palais des Sports on fire in 1977. Aretha Franklin’s entrance on the Paris stage is made with great fanfare, complete with bombastic introduction by the orchestra and sequin gown for the diva. She opens her arms wide before the public, as if to say, "Here I am!" Except for a little bit of larsen effect in the beginning, the concert starts off with a bang. Discovered by producer John H. Hammond (who also helped spark the careers of Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, among others), she became a star in the late fifties, first with Columbia Records (1956–1966), which wanted to groom her as a jazz singer, and then on the Atlantic label (1967–1979), which saw her potential in soul and R&B. This isn’t her Parisian premiere. In 1977, Franklin arrives on the heels of a highly successful stint that saw her initial hits, including Respect, Think and I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You). Already dubbed the "Queen of Soul," she has been racking up Grammys for nearly ten years (the first coming in 1968). She has some thirty albums to her credit, including *Amazing Grace* (1972), which would become one of the best-selling gospel albums in the world. Onstage at the Palais des Sports in Paris, she demonstrates her cultural range, not hesitating to navigate everything from an enticing cover of La vie en rose to classics like Singing in the Rain, accompanied by full orchestra and three backing vocalists. Exhibiting an abundance of energy and numerous wardrobe changes, Franklin is a seasoned performer. The cheers of the audience are proof! Watch "Aretha Franklin - Live in Paris" on Qwest TV!

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Sunday 01 February 2026 10:00:24 GMT