Gladys Knight will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 American Music Awards

A special performance honoring Franklin’s gospel roots is planned for this year’s ceremony.

September 27, 2018
Gladys Knight will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 American Music Awards Gladys Knight performs onstage during the VH1 'Dear Mama' taping on May 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.   Rich Fury/Getty

The American Music Awards will honor Aretha Franklin with a special tribute performance next month, Assosciated Press reports.

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Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans and musical director Rickey Minor will honor Franklin’s gospel roots and her 1972 album Amazing Grace at the October 9 event. The event will take place at Los Angeles's Microsoft Theater and will air live on ABC.

Franklin won six AMAs in her career and hosted the ceremony in 1976 and 1983. She died last month at the age of 76.

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Other performers confirmed for this year's AMAs include Mariah Carey, Cardi B, Khalid, Halsey, and Imagine Dragons.

Gladys Knight will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 American Music Awards