DETROIT (AP) – Aretha Franklin not only is the “Queen of Soul.” She’s also the queen of “American Idol.”
The music legend welcomed the long-running TV singing competition to her hometown of Detroit Wednesday.
The three musically accomplished judges – Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. – and host Ryan Seacrest were on hand at The Fillmore Detroit, as were the contestants.
But the star of the show was Franklin. She served as a mentor to the contestants and performed on the Fillmore’s stage.
Urban says “it’s a huge deal” to have Franklin associated with the show.