Her life was the stuff of movies. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles to a teenage mother and an unknown father. One widely circulated story was that her father was legendary pool player Minnesota Fats.

Battling heroin, a myriad of health issues, a one time weight gain that reported her at 400 pounds---she did not have it easy.

But if you’ve ever heard the phrase “owning a song,” there is no greater example of what that means than Etta James singing “At Last.”

You heard the song sang by another singer when President and Michelle Obama danced at the inauguration. You’ll hear it in the news as word of her death spreads. And you’ll hear it if they decide to feature the news on the front of OS. 

The song is a triumphant wail of making it through the tough times. A melody of what it means to get to where you’ve always wanted to go. A classic of the ages that will live on.

But if you’re not quite where you want to be. If the troubles of life still rest heavy on your shoulders, if you are where Etta had been so many, many times across her years. If you want to hear what Janis Joplin heard before she went on to share her genius with the world, if you hurt bad and you just can’t be alone right now; then listen to Etta James sing another song. Listen to her sing "I'd Rather Go Blind."

And when you hear the pain in that voice,

You won’t be alone anymore.

God bless you Etta James. For every song you sang.