I think the hat was very nice.

Whoever made the hat should be arrested.

Whoever sold the hat to an obese, aging woman should be ashamed of themselves.

Anyone who told Aretha that she looked anything other than ridiculous is a liar and guilty of elder abuse.

Bringing her out to sing in public is abuse of the public.

The ugly hat was only exceeded by her mutilation of the song My Country Tis of Thee.

Ms. Franklin has a long personal tradition of attiring herself in attention-getting clothes & the hat is just more of the same. This is a big so-what. The fuss about it just shows how truly shallow people can get. As for the song, I'm thrilled to hear Aretha bring her unparalleled vocal gifts to anything she wants to sing. I thought she dressed up what's usually an off-the-charts tedious song very interestingly. bjohn334 should consider the virtues of lightening up.

If you are a queen, you should dress like one.

I would expect Ms. Franklin to wear something spectacular and unusual - even to an inaugeration. She did nothing wrong and enhanced my viewing experience. Anyone who says otherwise is a racist fashion moron.

As usual the "Degenerates" of this world couldn't recognize "class" if it hit them in the head! We could use a little respect too!

She is a big girl she wears bit things, I think the hat was better that her singing. She no longer can keep a tune. She needs to realize that she has lost the voice she had when she was at her peak, and just stop doing things like this.

The hat was amusing. But her singing was classic Aretha. Moving. Awesome. It was freezing. I'd love to see anyone perform flawlessly in that environment. You can trash her hat if you will, but never her performance. It was da bomb!

cold or not, she can not sing. She's great at screaming and screeching though.

Cold or not, she can not sing. She's great at screaming and screeching though. The hat was equally as bad as the singing.

i thought it was absolutely rediculous. she needs to stop singing while she is ahead also. oh wait...to late for that. she sucks. all she does is scream. and yes, she mutilated that song.

Loved the hat and the song!!! I'm not a big Aretha fan, but I thought she looked better and smaller and her version of the song sounded good. However, whenever Ellen DeGen starts wearing a dress or dress-up clothes, only then will I listen to her fashion statements. Please...

Aretha Franklin is a legend. Her hat was fantastic and her song was superb. More than that, her presence at the Inauguration was historic as she had went from singing at King's funeral during an era of unrest and division in the country to singing at the Inaguration for the first man of color president where people are finally coming together. Please show some respect for the Queen. She deserves it. After all, she radiates class.

In America...anything is possible.....

This is hilarious! Ellen looks even funnier than Aretha! Thanks for sharing!

As an 'old' 60ish black woman, I would never dream of commenting on the talents of todays' young singers, most of whom I feel, can not carry a decent tune in a tin tub. Can't imagine why some people feel it's okay to degrade what they cannot possibly understand nor appreciate. Aretha's hat and others like it can be seen on any given Sunday, in any BLACK church in America...'Nuff said!

Aretha's hat was beautiful. She wore the proper style hat for this special event. Ellen everybody is not trying to be a man like you! Women want to look like women with nice hats NOT BASEBALL CAPS!!!!

The hat and song were fantabulous. Those who said otherwise should stop HATING...and include your names when posting negative comments...cowards

First of all, Aretha is famous for her style and her soulful voice. She is a beautiful African American woman, and her size doesn't matter (even though half of the US is overweight). Her hat was beautiful, and was perfect for the occasion; it was fun and formal. Also, Aretha can actually SING, unlike most of the stupid young singers we have today, whose voices are electronically corrected. Her soulful voice is famous, and she can actually sing LIVE, and it was beautiful.

And Ellen is a COMEDIAN. It's her job to joke around, you can't be disrespectful to her, because she is someone that is fun and nice, and you should be more mature then to make insults towards her.

Obama's inaugeration was very nice, and all the guest speakers were very special, and the event actually brought a tear to me and a couple of other people in my class while we watched HISTORY HAPPEN!

Very Few are the women who could carry off a hat like that, Aretha is obviously one of them.

What impresses me most is how this Simple Hat echoes Our Own Shameful History. This Hat demands that you remember the time when Black Mammies ran the South. Yep! That's what I said, RAN THE SOUTH! All those White HypoChristian Plantation Owners would have been lost without thier Slaves. White Southern culture OWES itself to the labor and sacrifice that Blacks were forced to endure as Slaves. This Simple Hat said volumes about the endurance and strength of 'Black America'.

Perserverance and Dignity have found thier way to the White House, there is no Honest Patriot who is not bursting with Pride in this Country in These days! Just as that Bow Bursts Out Proudly from one of This Country's Dearest and Most Respected National Treasures.

to quote:
"I'm not afraid
of the Black Man Runnin'.
He's got it Right
We got a Better Life
Coming" Sufjan Stevens

White in Marin

You can add her picture to my next box of "Aunt Jemina" pancake and waffle mix, since the picture on the current box is a bit dated. Isn't the "blended society" going a bit too far?

THE MORE I LOOK AT ARETHA, THE MORE CHARMING I FIND HER HAT. I THINK IT IS VERY BECOMING AND LOVELY. AND THE TILT OF THE BOW IS JUST RIGHT.

of course that was appropriate for her to wear at the great occasion. she took the tradition in which she was raised, where fancy hats were a sign of respect and enjoyment both, and carried it on at a moment reflecting those to the highest degree. there was a wonderful off-broadway show, maybe ten years ago,beautifully performed, about the ladies gathering for church and discussing their hats. does anyone remember the name?
she, and itzy and yoyo, brought individual distinction to the ceremonies, which is more than can be said for those longwinded bloviators, the preachers, or the mistress of yawns, the poet

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR A HATER,FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOUR TIME,CAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT THIS

People should really give it a rest. Aretha looked very appropiate. She made me proud. I could relate because it took me back to the days when i went to church with my grandmother, she wore and still wears the same fashions. Stop picking apart the inaguration and deal with life. My mom use to tell me," If you don't have anything good to say don't say anything."

I didn't think a thing about Aretha Franklin's hat until all of this chatter on the internet. In fact, I thought to myself, she looks good. I am from the South and I am white, but I know how people dress up, especially to go to church and dignified occasions. Ms. Franklin looked wonderful I thought.

Haters,
Lighten up! That hat is FUN!
Greatful

Haters,
Lighten up! That hat is FUN!
Greatful

shocked they had any material left after covering her giant ass

Where is Ellen's ubiquitous "Look at me, I'm GAY" sign?

U NEGATIVE SPEAKING PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE, AREATHA IS THE BOMB DIGGITY!!!!!!!!!!

I Loved the Hat!!! It took me back to the Olde Time Way!! Something that is truly Southern Church and the struggles of an era, when Church was all that the Black people had!! Many of you wouldn't know anything about that! My hats off to you Ms. Franklin

P.s. I was There in D.C. when she sang and wore The Queens Hat!

Love love love the hat. Aretha has given so much to the world. I am an old "white" grandma for the record, and wish people would just show some respect. Peace out.