Aretha Franklin returned to the spotlight and wowed guests at her extravagant 69th birthday party on Friday by breaking into song with former Temptations front-man Dennis Edwards.
The Queen of Soul put last year's health scare behind her by inviting over 100 relatives and pals to celebrate her big day at New York's Central Park Hotel.
After showing off her slimmed-down frame to guests including the likes of music mogul Clive Davis, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett and Smokey Robinson, the singer was serenaded by Edwards.
But she couldn't resist putting on a show, and launched into an impromptu mini duet with Edwards, performing a rousing rendition of The Way We Were.
Edwards then led the party to sing Happy Birthday before Franklin cut her lavish and elaborate birthday cake.
The bash marked a return to the limelight for the Respect star since she cancelled a string of concerts in December last year when she underwent surgery for a mystery ailment.
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