Aretha Franklin the label. To complete her Arista obligations, Franklin issued the duets compilation album "" in 2007. The following year, she issued the holiday album "This Christmas, Aretha", on DMI Records. In February 2006 she performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL, held in her hometown of Detroit. On January 20, 2009 Franklin made international headlines for performing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming a popular topic online. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University. In 2011, under her own label,
Break It to Me Gently (Aretha Franklin song) Break It to Me Gently (Aretha Franklin song) "Break It to Me Gently" is a song written by Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch which was an R&B hit for Aretha Franklin in 1977. Released from the "Sweet Passion" album, it reached Number 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart in June 1977. The song's success was only faintly reflected on the "Billboard" Hot 100 with a Number 85 peak, before dropping out of the Hot 100 after two weeks. "Break It to Me Gently" would be Franklin's final Atlantic single to appear on the Hot 100 - from which