She used the moment to elevate herself as someone who came from rough beginnings and ultimately crafted the career she is known for. The connection she made to Aretha could not have been more insignificant. Aretha had nothing to do with the things she spoke of, like falling from the top of a cake on stage and losing a shoe, leaving her life in Paris or wherever it was to learn the guitar and write her own songs... the story was all about herself. She spoke of Aretha for probably 20 seconds out of a 7-minute speech. It was absolutely self-indulgent.