American vocal legend Etta James will perform at Arrington Vineyards on Friday, June 12.

The 71-year-old is back on her feet and energetic after years of battling weight.

Perhaps today best known for crooning the hit “At Last,” James’ career has spanned a variety of styles including soul, R&B, doo-wop and jazz. James grew up in California and toured with Little Richard while still a teenager. In 1955 at the age of 17 James scored a No. 1 R&B chart-topper with “The Wallflower” (Roll With Me Henry).

She went on to record for Chess Records and other labels extensively, and she has reached out to many different genres, including a tour with the Rolling Stones and a hip-hop collaboration with Def Jef.

James was recently portrayed by Beyonce Knowles in Cadillac Records, which documented the days of Chess Records and the artists who recorded for Leonard Chess.

James, probably jokingly, said “she’s gonna get her ass whipped . . . I can’t stand Beyonce, she had no business up there singing my song that I’ve been singing forever,” about the portrayal, but she has called the retort a joke and said “I really didn’t mean anything.”

However James, who has also maintained that Minnesota Fats is her father, still says she can sing the classic tune better than Beyonce. The song was actually composed for the 1941 film Orchestra Wives.

Arrington Vineyards, owned by country artist Kix Brooks, one half of legendary duo Brooks and Dunn, is located at 6211 Patton Road, Arrington, Tenn., between Murfreesboro and Franklin.

For tickets, call (800) 745-3000 or visit

ticketmaster.com.