Kelly Clarkson Honors Etta James With Song During Concert (Video)

Kelly Clarkson took a moment during her concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York to remember Etta James, the great R&B singer who died at the age of 73 on Friday.

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Clarkson told the audience that she would perform her favorite Etta James song, which is Id Rather Go Blind. So this is for Etta, she said before beginning the song.

The American Idol winner, who will perform the National Anthem at the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, then belts out a powerful cover of the song, which was first recorded by James in 1968.

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Clarkson has a special connection with James, because if it werent for her song, At Last, Clarkson could have possibly never caught the eyes (and ears) of the judges of Idol. She sang the song during her audition in Dallas for the very first season of Idol in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Etta James died on Friday, January 20, at Riverside Community Hospital from complications from leukemia.