The Song Carole King Wrote For Aretha That Left Her Speechless

Some songs are written to be performed. Others feel as though they were waiting for the perfect voice to bring them to life. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” belongs to the rare second category—a timeless soul ballad that became inseparable from the voice of Aretha Franklin and one of the defining recordings of her legendary career.

The song arrived at a crucial moment in Franklin’s journey. By 1967, she had already begun her transformation from talented singer into a cultural force. Her recordings “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” and “Respect” had established her as one of the most powerful voices in popular music, earning her the title that would follow her for the rest of her life: the Queen of Soul.

“Natural Woman” was written specifically for Franklin by Carole King and her husband and songwriting partner Gerry Goffin after producer Jerry Wexler suggested they create a song that would showcase her extraordinary voice. Wexler understood that Franklin had something unique—the ability to take a simple lyric and transform it into a deeply emotional experience.

In her memoir, King described the first time she heard Aretha sing the song as a rare experience that left her without words. Despite having written countless celebrated songs throughout her career, she felt that Franklin’s performance reached a level beyond anything she had imagined.

The recording became another milestone in Franklin’s extraordinary career and further cemented her reputation as one of the greatest vocalists in history. Over the decades, it has remained one of her signature performances, covered by countless artists and celebrated by generations of listeners.