Aretha Franklin sang her heart out on the first day of the Obama White House, then again near its end.

She was there on the steps of the Capitol on a chilly day in January 2009 for President Barack Obama's first inauguration, resplendent in a gray felt hat bedecked with an oversized rhinestone-bordered bow. She belted out "My Country 'Tis of Thee," her words echoing across the National Mall.

She was there in December 2015 for the Kennedy Center Honors, triumphantly taking the stage in a long, brown fur coat that draped over the floor as she sat at a piano and sang "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," one of her most soul-stirring anthems.

Carole King, the honoree who co-wrote the song, gleefully gasped from her balcony seat. Obama was moved to tears. He later explained to The New Yorker: "American history wells up when Aretha sings."

Franklin, among the most acclaimed and influential vocalists in the history of American popular music, provided the galvanizing soundtracks for both the civil rights and women's empowerment movements of the 1960s and 1970s — the very movements that paved the way for the country's first black president and first lady.

The electrifying, gospel-inspired power of her voice — and what it meant for anyone who strives for dignity in America — was not lost on the Obamas, who praised Franklin in a statement released hours after her death, at 76, was announced on Thursday morning:

America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father’s congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine. Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.

And similar tributes came Thursday from fellow musical luminaries — Smokey Robinson, Barbara Streisand, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, and dozens of others.

I’m sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit Aretha Franklin. — Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) August 16, 2018

Love and prayers for Aretha Franklin. The most soulful angelic voice that ever was. You are the queen and we love you. ️ — Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) August 14, 2018

My thoughts, my heart and my prayers are with Aretha Franklin, the greatest singer of all time, and all of her loved ones right now. — Patti LaBelle (@MsPattiPatti) August 14, 2018

"The loss of Aretha Franklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music: Music from the heart, the soul and the Church. Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated — she was one of my favorite pianists," Elton John said via Instagram.

Franklin was also honored by pillars of the civil rights community, such the Rev. Al Sharpton, who called her a "beloved friend and queen/warrior" whose "contributions are legendary both personally and societally."

In an interview with the Associated Press, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said: "The most consistent voice in music for 60 years has been Aretha Franklin’s voice... The world of music has lost a bit of its soul."

And she was mourned by another former first couple — Bill and Hillary Clinton. Franklin also performed at Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993.

"She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts," Hillary Clinton tweeted. "Rest in eternal peace, my friend."