Ariana Grande cries while paying tribute to Aretha Franklin

Los Angeles : Singer Ariana Grande delivered a powerful performance dedicated to late singer Aretha Franklin during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon".

The "No tears left to cry" singer, 25, shed a few for Franklin while singing her iconic "Natural woman" following the singer's death on Thursday morning.

Grande honoured the late singer with powerhouse vocals reminiscent of Franklin's stage presence wearing a glittering black suit and a high ponytail as she was accompanied by the band The Roots.

"I met her a few times. We sang at the White House and she was so sweet, she was so cute," Grande said of meeting Franklin for the first time.

"It's an honour to have met her," she added.

Grande paid tribute to Franklin earlier on Thursday upon hearing the news she had passed away. She also shared a black-and-white photograph of herself with her arm around the legendary singer with a heart emojis.