On this day April 18, 1987, I Knew You Were Waiting by Aretha Franklin and George Michael hit number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The duet stayed at the top through May 1 and also reached number 1 in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and Zimbabwe.
This powerhouse collaboration brought together the Queen of Soul and one of pop’s biggest rising stars for a track that blended gospel energy with smooth pop production. The chemistry between Aretha Franklin and George Michael gave the song a timeless, uplifting feel that resonated across generations and radio formats.
I Knew You Were Waiting became a global smash and marked a major chart comeback for Aretha Franklin, while cementing George Michael’s status as an international solo artist.
Fun fact: This was Aretha Franklin’s first number 1 hit since 1967 and would become her final number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Trivia question: What 1987 duet featuring Aretha Franklin and George Michael became a worldwide number 1 hit and marked a major comeback for the Queen of Soul?
This powerhouse collaboration brought together the Queen of Soul and one of pop’s biggest rising stars for a track that blended gospel energy with smooth pop production. The chemistry between Aretha Franklin and George Michael gave the song a timeless, uplifting feel that resonated across generations and radio formats.
I Knew You Were Waiting became a global smash and marked a major chart comeback for Aretha Franklin, while cementing George Michael’s status as an international solo artist.
Fun fact: This was Aretha Franklin’s first number 1 hit since 1967 and would become her final number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Trivia question: What 1987 duet featuring Aretha Franklin and George Michael became a worldwide number 1 hit and marked a major comeback for the Queen of Soul?
