Scoreload

American singer, songwriter and pianist, widely hailed as the 'Queen of Soul', renowned for her powerful, gospel-trained voice and profound influence on popular music.Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Franklin rose from singing gospel in her father's Detroit church to become one of the best-selling and most awarded musicians in history. She recorded iconic hits like 'Respect', 'Chain of Fools', 'Think', and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' primarily for Atlantic Records in the late 1960s. Her music fused gospel, R&B, soul, and pop, earning her 18 competitive Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (first woman inducted).

• Franklin's mother, Barbara, left the family when Aretha was six and died before Aretha's tenth birthday. Her father, famed preacher C.L. Franklin, was a major influence but was shot during a robbery in 1979 and remained in a coma until his death in 1984.
• Her career breakthrough came after signing with Atlantic Records in 1966. Producer Jerry Wexler took her to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where her raw gospel power fused with R&B and pop arrangements, creating her signature sound on hits like 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)' and 'Respect'.
• 'Respect', released in 1967, became an enduring anthem for the Civil Rights and feminist movements, transforming Otis Redding's original plea into a powerful demand for dignity.
• Franklin battled stage fright throughout her career and experienced significant commercial fluctuations after the 1970s peak, alongside struggles with her weight and alcohol. She overcame these challenges to perform at historic events like President Obama's 2009 inauguration.
• Franklin died on August 16, 2018, at her home in Detroit, Michigan, from advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (a type of pancreatic cancer). Her funeral was a major event, lasting over 8 hours and featuring numerous musical tributes.