Franklin performs at the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American U.S. President.
On January 20, 2009, Aretha Franklin performed "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at the inauguration of President Barack Obama, marking a historic event as he became the first African American President of the United States. Her performance was emblematic of her status as a cultural icon who had long championed civil rights and social justice through her music. Franklin’s participation in this momentous occasion symbolized a bridge between the civil rights struggles of the past and the hope for future progress, highlighting the deep connections between art and societal change.