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Happy Thanksgiving: Aretha Franklin took her time singing the national anthem

DETROIT.MI - NOVEMBER 24: Detroit native Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem prior to the start of the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings game at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT.MI - NOVEMBER 24: Detroit native Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem prior to the start of the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings game at Ford Field on November 24, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
By Kelcie Willis
Nov 25, 2016

Football is as synonymous with Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing.

At Thursday's Minnesota Vikings game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, none other than the legendary singer Aretha Franklin was in Detroit to sing the national anthem before kickoff, but Variety reported that her rendition was a tad long.

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The Detroit native sported long brown hair, a fur coat and a Lions beanie as she played the piano and sang a soulful version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" for 4 minutes and 55 seconds.

But Franklin is the queen of soul, and sings as long as she wishes.

Viewers, however, noticed and said so on Twitter.

For what it's worth, the Lions defeated the Vikings 16-13, so Franklin's vocals may have been a good luck charm, however long.

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Kelcie Willis
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