text: The only thing more dramatic than the Lions' 16-13 fourth-quarter win over the Vikings on Thursday was Aretha Franklin's rendition of the national anthem. 
   
   Actually, "dramatic" might not be the best word to use to describe Franklin's performance. "Never-ending" would probably work better after Franklin somehow managed to belt the anthem out for a full four minutes and 35 seconds. 
   
   To put that into perspective, oddsmakers usually expect the national anthem at the Super Bowl to run for roughly two minutes. Franklin doubled that, plus some, and let's just say people on Twitter weren't amused. 
   
   After Franklin was done singing, the jokes started flying. 
   
   There were football jokes. 
   
   Due to the length of Aretha Franklin's national anthem... Both teams have to warm up again. Kick off pushed back half hour #figureitout — D Durkin (@D_Durkin) November 24, 2016 The ref should throw a delay of game flag at Aretha Franklin for this National Anthem. #thanksgivingthursday — AJ Burman (@BurmanAJ) November 24, 2016 Due to Aretha Franklin's national anthem, kickoff for the Vikings Lions game has been pushed back to 4:25 — Jake Berger (@Jake_Berger) November 24, 2016 
   
   There were Colin Kaepernick jokes. 
   
   Kaepernick would've developed arthritis in his knee for kneeling so long if the 49ers were playing while Aretha Franklin sang the anthem — Brock (@BrockOgami) November 24, 2016 If Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the Aretha Franklin version of the National Anthem, he'd need an orthopedic surgeon to stand again. — Dubsism (@Dubsism) November 24, 2016 
   
   There were Thanksgiving jokes. 
   
   I cooked my whole turkey, ate and did the dishes during Aretha Franklin's National Anthem performance. — B. Miller (@BlaiseInKC) November 24, 2016 when aretha franklin started singing the national anthem, we were cutting the turkey. By the time she finished we were opening presents smh — psyche$nelic (@SnelbangTheGoat) November 24, 2016 Turkey's gettin' cold, Aretha. — mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) November 24, 2016 
   
   There were presidential jokes. 
   
   I call Aretha Franklin the Abe Lincoln of singing the National Anthem cuz she started four score and seven years ago. — Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) November 24, 2016 Before Aretha Franklin sang the National Anthem 
   
   After Aretha Franklin sang the National Anthem pic.twitter.com/EaMF1CctzB — shauna (@goldengateblond) November 24, 2016 
   
   There were even Johnny Manziel jokes. 
   
   Aretha Franklin had a longer NFL career than Johnny Manziel. — The Fake ESPN (@TheFakeESPN) November 24, 2016 Aretha Franklin's national anthem lasted longer than Johnny Manziel's career — Andre Magaro (@andre_magaro) November 24, 2016 
   
   There was also a time of possesion joke at the end of the first half. 
   
   Time of possession battle is crucial. pic.twitter.com/EZVC53fVeD — NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) November 24, 2016 
   
   And a joke about starting a family. 
   
   Bro I got married and had a child and Aretha Franklin still isn't done — netflix & just chill (@JustChillin247) November 24, 2016 
   
   On the other hand, maybe we should stop complaining. The Vikings-Lions halftime show of Andy Grammer sent Twitter on another firestorm. 
   
   This nonsense lasted 30 seconds longer then Aretha. Happy now? pic.twitter.com/LyVYWyUkM4 — Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) November 24, 2016 I'm not thankful for whatever Andy Grammer is doing on my TV... — Ted (@tlschwerz) November 24, 2016 Hasn't Detroit been through enough without subjecting its holidays to Andy Grammer? — Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) November 24, 2016 
   
   After watching Grammer's performance, maybe we shouldn't complain about Aretha. 
   
   Aretha Franklin is pretty far up at the top of the list of folks who can take however long they want with the national anthem. — Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) November 24, 2016 
   
   If you missed Franklin's performance, you can see it below. ||||| 😩😂Y'all better let Aretha Franklin sing this National Anthem. No interruptions. Happy Thanksgiving! #MINvsDET #NFL https://t.co/jyoUfv4nwn — Gerren Peterson (@GerrenPeterson) November 24, 2016 
   
   Legendary singer Aretha Franklin has reached a status in her career where she can do no wrong. 
   
   The Queen of Soul has a career spanning six decades. She’s won 20 Grammy Awards. Has a Kennedy Center Honor. And was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
   
   So when Aretha Franklin wants to sing a 5-minute version of the National Anthem, Aretha Franklin sings a 5-minute version of the National Anthem. 
   
   She did just that on Thanksgiving too — performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Thursday’s Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings game at Ford Field. 
   
   Gregory Shamus/Getty 
   
   Wearing a grey fur coat and a knit Detroit Lions hat, Franklin sat behind a grand piano — which she played throughout the song. She took fans to church in the heartfelt performance — slowing down the song and hanging on nearly every word. (The “flag was still there” — for at least 12 seconds, for example.) 
   
   Franklin is an icon to the city of Detroit — where the sound of Motown was born. So it was no surprise that the crowd at Ford Field were especially in love with Franklin’s National Anthem — breaking into thunderous applause throughout the performance. 
   
   But the Internet had a field day of their own with her rendition. 
   
   “Thankful Aretha Franklin doesn’t sing the Anthem when I pitch,” wrote Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher James Taillon. “Pretty sure I would have to go back to the pen and warm back up #pipesthough.” 
   
   Thankful Aretha Franklin doesn't sing the Anthem when I pitch, pretty sure I would have to go back to the pen and warm back up #pipesthough — Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon19) November 24, 2016 
   
   Watch What Happens Live! host Andy Cohen kept things superficial by complimenting Franklin on her outfit. 
   
   Other fans on Twitter couldn’t get over how long Franklin took — many joking about what they could have done in the meantime. 
   
   I cooked my whole turkey, ate and did the dishes during Aretha Franklin's National Anthem performance. — B. Miller (@BlaiseInKC) November 24, 2016 
   
   Mom: Can u go to the store and buy some milk? Me: I can't the game is about to start Aretha Franklin: I got u fam — Victor Martinez (@fakevmart41) November 24, 2016 
   
   Detroit vs Minnesota time of possession stats Lions: 3 minutes 
   
   Vikings: 0 minutes 
   
   Aretha Franklin: 8 minutes — Kevin Jost (@kjoster19) November 24, 2016 
   
   Bro I got married and had a child and Aretha Franklin still isn't done — juan (@JustChillin247) November 24, 2016 
   
   And it’s a good thing Colin Kaepernick wasn’t around… 
   
   Kaepernick would've developed arthritis in his knee for kneeling so long if the 49ers were playing while Aretha Franklin sang the anthem — Brock (@BrockOgami) November 24, 2016 
   
   Still, the praise for Franklin was pretty unanimous. 
   
   aretha franklin is an absolute icon and the queen of soul, she can go on as long as she wants. #respect pic.twitter.com/tEbhORgS8p — jack (@JackBallou) November 24, 2016 
   
   Aretha Franklin is pretty far up at the top of the list of folks who can take however long they want with the national anthem. — Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) November 24, 2016 
   
   Aretha Franklin's been in the biz long enough 2 know what's up. She's like "complain if u want but who's trending, who'll be on the news…" — HopeAndLove (@GoodLife49) November 24, 2016 
   
   Y'all better put some R E S P E C T on Aretha Franklin's national anthem — Jammer 🗣 (@JaMir_Russell) November 24, 2016 
   
   Never change, Aretha. Never change. ||||| Tweet with a location 
   
   You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Add a location to your Tweets 
   
   When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more ||||| Things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving: 
   
   Friends 
   
   Family 
   
   Health 
   
   Aretha Franklin 
   
   Especially Aretha Franklin. 
   
   Aretha Franklin performs the National Anthem before the Detroit Lions' game Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit. Rick Osentoski / AP 
   
   The Queen of Soul — whose family moved to Detroit when she was a young girl almost 70 years ago — settled in at the piano Thursday before the Detroit Lions' game against the Minnesota Vikings and turned "The Star-Spangled Banner" into a 4-minute, 35-second-long church spiritual. 
   
   NFL 2016 Live 1 (00) - Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem https://t.co/9tjUuAvUNp — ??thinking diehard (@hanae_56_20) November 24, 2016 
   
   And America went nuts. 
   
   NFL 2016 Live 1 (00) - Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem https://t.co/9tjUuAvUNp — ??thinking diehard (@hanae_56_20) November 24, 2016 
   
   Lol they put Aretha Franklin on the time of possession graphic for her long national anthem. ?? pic.twitter.com/cwPUFmclFE — Markeece Young ?? (@YoungBLKRepub) November 24, 2016 
   
   Before Aretha Franklin sang the National Anthem 
   
   After Aretha Franklin sang the National Anthem pic.twitter.com/EaMF1CctzB — shauna (@goldengateblond) November 24, 2016 
   
   Between Aretha's national anthem and the family member that prays for 45 minutes, we ain't eating until Saturday — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 24, 2016 
   
   I'm glad #ArethaFranklin sang an extended version of the National Anthem.. took them to Church ..made them search their hearts????@Iam360WISE — MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) November 24, 2016 
   
   Nobody rushes Aretha. Nobody. We've got all the time. — Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) November 24, 2016 
   
   Aretha Franklin had a longer NFL career than Johnny Manziel. — The Fake ESPN (@TheFakeESPN) November 24, 2016 
   
   By no means was it the first time Lady Soul has astonished fans with an unexpected demonstration of her enormous talent and vocal range. 
   
   In 1998, Franklin stepped in at the last minute for the ailing Luciano Pavarotti at the Grammy Awards, and instead of doing her normal thing, she delivered a note-perfect rendition of the aria "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's opera "Turandot" — Pavarotti's signature tune. 
   
   "Nessun Dorma" has since become part of Franklin's own repertoire. She's recorded the aria on an album, and she even performed it again last year in Philadelphia for Pope Francis.
target: – Americans were reminded of one more thing to be thankful for on Thursday: Aretha Franklin. In what caused a "Twitter meltdown," per CBS Sports, Franklin sang the national anthem ahead of the Detroit Lions' game against the Minnesota Vikings and stretched the song into an incredible "4-minute, 35-second-long church spiritual," per NBC News. The national anthem performance at the Super Bowl is typically expected to take about two minutes. One Twitter user joked that "I cooked my whole turkey, ate, and did the dishes" during the performance, while another said it was a wonder Franklin didn't get a delay of game penalty. At one point in the game, CBS even included Franklin in a graphic showing time of possession on the field. But fans at the stadium were thrilled, applauding several times throughout the performance, per People. The Lions went on to win the game 16-13.