Aretha Franklin is Honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year"

On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year."

The Rev. Al Sharpton steered the evening onto the freeway of love with an opening benediction: "We may debate, Lord, about who will be the president, but there's no debate about who is the queen."

That would be Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, who "never forgot her roots and lived to see her fruits," said Sharpton, notably during Friday night's soul parade at the L.A. Convention Center, where Franklin was celebrated as MusiCares Person of the Year.