Condoleezza Rice plays with Aretha Franklin for charity

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined veteran singer Aretha Franklin on stage to perform at a charitable gig.
Rice, who is a classically trained pianist, accompanied the soul legend during two of her hit songs at Philadelphia's Mann Music Center. She also played a selection of Mozart musical pieces.

The concert was held to raise money for urban children and awareness for music and the arts.

Rice, the Republican former aide to President George W, Bush and Franklin - a committed Democrat who sang at President Barack Obama's inauguration - met at a White House function.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Rice said: "We were just talking and chatting and she said 'You play, don't you?' "And I said, 'Yes.' And she said we should do something together."

Franklin said she had been surprised at how talented Rice was.

"All I had seen of Dr Rice was in a political atmosphere. It just seemed foreign that she would be a classical pianist. "She really does play, she's formidable."

Rice played piano while Franklin sang I Say A Little Prayer and My Country 'Tis of Thee.