DETROIT – The calls began to flood Luke Song's hat shop not long after Aretha Franklin finished belting out "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

 

Franklin, who wore a gray felt custom-designed hat from Mr. Song Millinery, has inadvertently caused an economic boom for the South Korean immigrant's store.

 

Song said he wasn't prepared for the hundreds of calls requesting the hat with a Swarovski rhinestone-bordered bow.

 

"We even have a lot of men calling to get it for their wives, mothers and grandmothers," Song said.

 

The hat worn by the "Queen of Soul" was hand-molded and would cost upward of $500 — if it were for sale, the 36-year-old designer said. Customers instead were offered a satin ribbon version for $179.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_en_mu/inauguration_aretha_s_hat

 

I actually have one. I wear it when I go out to the bars.

The Smithsonian wants it...

 The Smithsonian in D.C. has asked Aretha Franklin if she would part with her (in)famous Luke Song hat to be part of President Obama’s Inaugural display. The display will also include Michella Obama's ball gown.

 http://perezhilton.com/2009-01-30-the-smithsonian-institution-wants-arethas-hat

It's already presumably the most popular hat on Facebook.

I can't tell you how much trim i've gotten from wearing that hat...at chruch.

Though I found it funny that with all the talk of Obama being the next Kennedy, hats are in all of a sudden. Stetson must be spinning in its corporate grave.