For Smokey Robinson, the late Aretha Franklin was more than just the Queen of Soul.

Robinson told a packed venue that Franklin was his longtime neighbour in Detroit, calling the acclaimed singer his 害羞草研究所渓ittle sister害羞草研究所� whom he still misses at the 害羞草研究所淎retha! A Grammy Celebration for The Queen of Soul.害羞草研究所� He along with some of music害羞草研究所檚 well-respected artists such as Alicia Keys, Celine Dion and Patti LaBelle took the stage to help bring Franklin害羞草研究所檚 favourite songs back to life during the Jan. 13 taped tribute concert in Los Angeles.

The tribute will air March 10 on CBS.

害羞草研究所淪he was the girl next door. In fact, she was the girl right around the corner who became a lifelong friend, who became a musical icon,害羞草研究所� said Robinson of Franklin, who last year died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer at her home in Detroit. When they were younger, he said they played hide-and-seek and kick-the-can games outside.

害羞草研究所淏efore Aretha passed away, she was my longest living neighbourhood friend,害羞草研究所� he said.

READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楺ueen of Soul害羞草研究所� Aretha Franklin has died

Robinson talked about meeting a 6-year-old Franklin for the first time after her family moved from Buffalo, New York, to Detroit. He said their first encounter came at Franklin害羞草研究所檚 home, which he called a 害羞草研究所渕ansion.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 went into this little room, peeked in and saw this little 6-year-old girl sitting there playing the piano and singing up a storm. 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所楢mazing Grace,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said. 害羞草研究所淪he was amazing. I said to myself, 害羞草研究所業f she wants to, I know she害羞草研究所檚 going to be somebody really important in show business.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Franklin certainly left her imprint on music and the world. She had dozens of hits over the span of half a century and took home 18 Grammy Awards. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The prolific singer and pianist sang at the dedication of her longtime friend the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.害羞草研究所檚 memorial in 2011. She performed at the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and the funeral for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation害羞草研究所檚 highest civilian honour, in 2005.

One of Franklin害羞草研究所檚 best-known performances was when she sang 害羞草研究所淢y Country 害羞草研究所榯is of Thee害羞草研究所� at President Barack Obama害羞草研究所檚 inauguration in 2009.

Music mogul Clive Davis told the crowd 害羞草研究所渢here will never ever be another Aretha Franklin害羞草研究所� at the tribute put on by the Recording Academy. Some of the singer害羞草研究所檚 family members including her grandson who spoke at her funeral were in attendance at the tribute, hosted by filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry.

Robinson called Franklin a 害羞草研究所済ame-changing sensation害羞草研究所� who had one of the 害羞草研究所済reatest voices害羞草研究所� of all time.

害羞草研究所淪he was a gifted songwriter, a fantastic musician and a great political activist,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut for me, she was always my little sister who I loved so much. I still love her so much. But she害羞草研究所檚 gone home now to be with her father. I believe she has been reunited with her entire immediate family.害羞草研究所�

Many others echoed Robinson害羞草研究所檚 sentiments.

A video montage of Franklin was shown at the show害羞草研究所檚 start as quotes paying homage to her were displayed on the screen from Obama, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. The video also showed the singer in a joyful moment laughing alongside with King.

害羞草研究所淎retha set the bar,害羞草研究所� a quote from Quincy Jones read.

Throughout the night, renditions of Franklin害羞草研究所檚 songs from 害羞草研究所淩espect害羞草研究所� to 害羞草研究所淚 Say a Little Prayer害羞草研究所� brought people out of their seats.

Jennifer Hudson, who will star in Franklin害羞草研究所檚 biopic, kicked off the tribute with an energetic performance of 害羞草研究所淭hink害羞草研究所� while wearing a stunning white dress. Keys sang while playing the piano, saying she was 害羞草研究所渂lessed to be here,害羞草研究所� before she introduced SZA as the two performed a duet of 害羞草研究所淒ay Dreaming.害羞草研究所�

Celine Dion received a standing ovation before she performed Franklin害羞草研究所檚 version of 害羞草研究所淎 Change is Gonna Come,害羞草研究所� which was originally made by Sam Cooke. Patti LaBelle害羞草研究所檚 voice soared on 害羞草研究所淐all Me害羞草研究所� with a house band led by music director Rickey Minor, as many throughout the crowd yelled out 害羞草研究所渆ncore害羞草研究所� after she finished.

Fantasia, Andra Day, Brandi Carlile and Alessia Cara sang 害羞草研究所淣atural Woman害羞草研究所� together. Common joined Yolanda Adams who sang 害羞草研究所�(To Be) Young, Gifted and Black害羞草研究所� as the rapper inserted his own politically charged rap lyrics into the 1972 song.

Other performers included Shirley Caesar, Kelly Clarkson, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., John Legend and BeBe Winans.

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Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press