President Obama appeared to tear up while watching the Queen of Soul perform at the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors earlier this month.
The president could be seen wiping the corner of his eye during Aretha Franklin’s performance of her classic 1967 tune “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” during the award show in Washington, D.C. on December 6th.
Franklin performed the classic as part of the ceremony’s tribute to Carole King, who co-wrote the tune with her songwriting partner Gerry Goffin.
Other Kennedy Center honorees this year included George Lucas, Seiji Ozawa, Cicely Tyson, and Rita Moreno.
Just hours before Franklin’s performance, Obama delivered a primetime address to the nation on terrorism. The speech caused the president to be late to the Kennedy Center ceremony.