Ariana Grande And Kelly Clarkson Set The Voice Stage On Fire With A Powerhouse Performance Of Aretha Franklin’S “Respect.” What Made The Moment Even More Unforgettable Was How They Took This Classic Hit To New Heights, Delivering A Show-Stopping Rendition That Fans Will Remember Forever

That’s exactly what happened during a particularly memorable Season 21 episode. Back in 2021, Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande joined forces to perform a version of “Respect” by Aretha Franklin that fans worldwide are still talking about nearly three years later. We’ll be frank here: The ladies killed it.

Franklin’s version of “Respect” is certainly high-energy, but the addition of Clarkson’s and Grande’s vocals to the arrangement gives the song an electricity that takes it to the next level. John Legend and Blake Shelton joined Grande and Clarkson at the end of the song, their four voices adequately putting respect on Franklin’s name. Pun intended.

“Respect” was released as part of Franklin’s 11th studio album, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, in 1967. By summer, the track had reached #1 on Billboard’s pop charts, paving the way for Franklin to be unofficially crowned “Queen of Soul” by fans and critics alike.

Ariana Grande performs onstage during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California; Aretha Franklin performs onstage during the Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives Premiere Concert during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Radio City Music Hall on April 19, 2017 in New York City. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images; Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival