Christina Aguilera's Tribute to Etta James

The world was saddened when the news of Etta James' death was announced Jan. 20. Her funeral brought together many great artists that were influenced by Etta James and whom knew the star personally.

James' funeral was held Saturday. One of the many singers whom had been influenced by James is Christina Aguilera, who sang James' most popular song "At Last." Aguilera's rendition of "At Last" is something James would have been proud of and so honored to have heard as a tribute to her. The way Aguilera sang was with a sensational amount of soul and heartfelt feeling that literally gave me chills and goose bumps. Out of all the people whom have sang James' song "At Last," Aguilera is definitely one of the best.

Aguilera's tribute is one of the most positive reviews the singer has had in most recent years. I think most of us remember her singing the national anthem and butchering the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner" to tiny giblets at the 2011 Super Bowl. She has also been in the news negatively because of weight gain and rumored alcohol abuse.

Since the funeral, Aguilera has become a hot topic, receiving lots of accolades and positive remarks for her tribute to one of the first women who has been an inspiration for many. In an article from People Magazine, Aguilera commented on how much James inspired her life and music: "Etta wasn't just any performer, she was a strong woman whose talent came from a place so deep it moved people in ways they never felt before. Losing her was, to me, like losing a part of my soul. ... I can only hope that she felt the love in the room as we all came together to pay tribute to her and celebrate her life as a person and as an artist. She will be deeply missed and I thank her family for allowing me such a great honor."

It is unfortunate the circumstance th! at Aguil era had to sing "At Last" as a tribute to James, but, as a fan of both women, I think it was a tribute that was beautifully done.

Heather M. Johnson-Emerson is a graduate from the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 2008. She has been writing for over 17 years and just recently started a career in freelance writing. Mrs. Johnson-Emerson is an amateur NPC bikini competitor and is a certified step instructor. Mrs. Johnson-Emerson's interests are found in: beauty, spirituality, painting, politics, celebrity gossip, and of course sports and fitness!