It's known in showbiz that offspring of superstars often possess the same talents as their ancestors. Such is the case for Grace Franklin: the granddaughter of the great Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
The 15-year-old from Detroit, Michigan, stepped into American Idol auditions with a lot to offer. “I don’t think I could fully grasp the fact that she was famous worldwide,” she said about Aretha in a pre-recorded clip. “Because to me she was always grandma.”
The school student gave it her best shot in front of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan. She performed the Fugee's rendition of "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and gave her version of her grandmother's song "Ain't No Way."
She had the spirit, but the judges claimed her audition was too "soft" and "sleepy." When it was time for voting, Luke Bryan ultimately had his reservations and gave a “no.” It was a “yes” from Perry, who felt the teen had “stardust” on her and wanted to give her a big break. The final vote was a tough love “no” from Richie, who felt the shy contestant simply wasn’t ready.
“The best thing for you in life is to take a shot at going backwards,” he remarked, encouraging the girl to "do the work."
As for Grace's legendary grandmother, a biopic based on Aretha's life, Respect, premiered in U.K. cinemas last year. It starred Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul. Additionally, National Geographic's Genius: Aretha starring Cynthia Erivo premiered almost a year ago.
See Grace Franklin's American Idol audition below.
Check out our selection of free stations streaming Aretha Franklin music at Live365.com.
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Article Image: Still image of Grace Franklin (Aretha Franklin's granddaughter) smiling during a pre-recorded clip on "American Idol." (American Idol via YouTube.)
