Q: Being one of the performers on the special “Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul,” what are your own memories of Aretha Franklin?

A: Literally the greatest compliment I probably will ever receive was from her mouth. I’ve always been a fan of hers, since I was a kid – but a lot of times, people you like and love get threatened as artists, and they’re incapable of complimenting someone else.

I’m really into reading about artists’ lives, honestly because I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes but learn from them. I’ve read a lot on (Franklin), and you could see that she was really supportive. She was such a phenomenal talent, she was never threatened by anyone or anything. She just loved what she did and said how she felt, and though I love her as a singer, I love her for her honesty as well.

Q: How do you think Aretha Franklin was when you watched her in actual performance?

A: I feel like she was very real – and also with the support she gave to civil rights and things like that, she was more than a singer. It was an incredible thing, since I was a kid, to listen to this woman who molded and changed me into the singer I am. She was one of the greats who did that for me, and this song I’m singing (on the special) is my favorite Aretha song ever.

I thought they’d ask me to sing “Respect” or something like that, but they said. “We’d love you to do ‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).’” Apparently, someone had seen me sing it; I had done it on a whole tour, so I’m pretty stoked to be able to do it, especially (among) artists that I love. When I was growing up, I played sports and it was like, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link.” And there are no weak links here.