Aretha Franklin’s preferred version of “My Country Tis of Thee” will be released this week, the song she performed in front of a national and international audience of billions at the historic Swearing In Ceremony of President Barack Obama. The initial release of the single will only be available digitally via several online music outlets including iTunes, Amazonmp3, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, GroupieTunes, Lala, Shockhound and AmieStreet and is being distributed worldwide by Tunecore on Aretha’s Records.”It is my objective to always give people the very best and I couldn’t do that unfortunately in 19 degree weather in Washington at the swearing in ceremony,” states the consummate singer and music icon. “So the preferred version for me is the very best that I would present singing the anthem. January 20 and the Swearing In Ceremony was without a doubt, a career high and it was a morning to top all mornings to date.”The Queen of Soul” decided to re-record the song and release it digitally in response to the huge demand from fans who wanted to hear her melodic performance of the anthem again.
To date, radio stations have been playing the stirring Inaugural version.
