aretha really is the bar for all other singers. if you can meet aretha, and not many can, but you have to attempt to get to that level. then i think you can be considered the type of singer and artist that aretha was. so many people have called on her, and not just r&b, but gospel. you're playing it right now in the background, but her gospel music touched so many people. >> her collaborations, her friendships with other artists, with the every man. we were just talking to a man in detroit who was saying how it meant so much she stayed there. it seems to span so much. >> i mean, we loved her. we were talking about it in the office at "essence." it's all these accolades that aretha has, but she was also still a beautiful, every day woman who brought her pocketbook everywhere. she didn't even call it a purse. there's been times where she's performed at the piano, and her hair may be askew and she doesn't even care because she's