Aretha Franklin Slays Live Performance of Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ (Video)

The icon performs a mashup of Adele hit with the Motown classic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” on “Late Show with David Letterman”

Aretha Franklin is The Queen of Soul, and she proved she’s not ready to give up the crown just yet during an appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Tackling Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Franklin proved that at 72 years old, she is still in command of her powerhouse voice.

The song is a track from Franklin’s upcoming collection of covers entitled “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics,” available on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

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The album will feature Franklin’s take on classic songs like Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman,” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” Barbra Streisand’s “People,” Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia,” The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and Etta James’ “At Last.”

It is Franklin’s first album release since 2011’s “Aretha: A Woman Falling in Love,” and a welcome return after a string of health problems sidelined the performer several times throughout 2013.

Franklin’s take on Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” is a mashup, including bits of the chorus from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” She was joined in the live performance by 81-year-old Cissy Houston, mother to the late Whitney Houston, who sang backup for Franklin in the 1960s as part of Sweet Inspirations.

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It’s great to see Franklin back in the spotlight, but it also reminds us that we miss Adele, too. The 26-year -old singer’s last album came out in 2011 and we’re really looking forward to “25” or “26,” but hopefully not a number too much higher (Adele’s first two album names, “19” and “21,” reflected her ages at the times they were written).

Maybe Adele could do a cover of one of Franklin’s signature songs and then the two could perform a beautiful duet of both songs on Grammy night.

Aretha Franklin also released the album version of her cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” on Monday, which you can hear below.

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