Aretha Franklin
 

At 12:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Americans are anxious to get NFL football going. With the whole nation ready to watch the day's first game, the national anthem should not stall anything.

Unless of course, the national anthem is performed by Aretha Franklin.


According to CBS, Franklin's national anthem officially clocked in at 4:35 (unclear if that includes the ovation she received before and after).


Don't rush the 74-year-old Detroit-bred Queen of Soul. She deserves our R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Hometown fans got to witness a living legend in her element and a Lions victory for the price of admission. That's a pretty good deal.

-- Follow Jeff Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband. Like Jeff Eisenband on Facebook.