Photo Credit: Sheléa for PBS
Sheléa stars in the upcoming special, “Aretha! With Sheléa and The Pacific Symphony,” a televised tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin.
Hot off a national tour as Stevie Wonder’s special guest on his 2025 “Sing Your Song!” tour, Sheléa is now starring in an upcoming PBS special, “Aretha! With Sheléa and The Pacific Symphony.” The televised tribute to the legendary Queen of Soul will premiere on PBS stations starting May 30, and will also be available for free streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.
Sheléa will also release her new Aretha Franklin-inspired self-penned song, “Never Give Up On Love,” which drops on April 25 on all streaming platforms. The track is the first of several new originals she’s set to release this year. “I wrote the song for those who are losing faith in finding love,” says Sheléa. “It comes when you least expect it.”
“Aretha! With Sheléa and The Pacific Symphony” was filmed on November 9, 2024, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California. Conducted by Emmy Award-winning Music Director Rickey Minor, the special showcases Sheléa performing timeless Franklin hits like “Chain of Fools,” “Say A Little Prayer,” “Respect,” and “Natural Woman.” It also features tracks like “Until You Come Back to Me” and “I Knew You Were Waiting,” a duet with Stevie Mackey. Sheléa is accompanied by the Pacific Symphony and a choir of background vocalists, delivering a truly unforgettable performance.
Sheléa is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, pianist, producer, and actress who has received the attention and support of music’s most powerful icons: Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Rickey Minor, and David Foster. Widely recognized for her vocal mastery, she’s often compared to the legendary Whitney Houston, while her piano skills are likened to the piano prowess of Alicia Keys. She has also garnered accolades from the likes of Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, and many more.
With years of making a name for herself as a vocal powerhouse, she has performed at The White House, The Library of Congress, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The Vatican. In the fall of 2022, she made her debut at the Royal Albert Hall with maestro Jules Buckley to a sold-out crowd, returning for another unforgettable performance in 2024.
Merging her musical talent with her new love for acting, Sheléa landed her first major role as Dorinda Clark in Lifetime TV’s critically acclaimed biopic, “The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel,” which drew nearly three million viewers.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.