Aretha Franklin was hailed as the Queen of Soul after unleashing her incredible four-octave vocal range on the pop charts — with the Detroit diva helping to establish her adopted hometown as a musical mecca for fellow artists. She sold more than 75 million records while topping the charts with hits including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “Natural Woman.” Aretha was also a pioneer as a female singer/songwriter, and left millions mourning after she passed away at 76 years old from pancreatic cancer. She’s also brought in massive lines of fans saying goodbye to Aretha one more time, with the Queen lying in state before her funeral on Aug. 31, as her adoring public looked back at her amazing career…
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The future Queen of Soul was a mother of two by the time she was 14! Aretha’s grandmother and sister helped raise her young boys while she worked on furthering her musical career. Aretha would have two more sons later in life — with
all four of her kids having different fathers.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Aretha sang for
Jimmy Carter,
Barack Obama and
Bill Clinton, who presented her with the 1999 National Medal of Arts. Clinton was said to be smitten with the star, and even reportedly penned her flirty notes that same year. “Bill just has this thing for Aretha Franklin,” dished an insider.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Photo credit: Getty Images
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Her jaw-dropping
performance for Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015, changed her life, said an insider, who added, “Aretha felt peace and love flowing to her from Pope Francis.” Afterward, the singer was “over the moon” and felt “blessed.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Photo credit: Getty Images
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But plenty of performers united in hailing Aretha on social media when it was announced that the legendary diva was on her deathbed.
Gladys Knight,who had once defended Dionne over Aretha in one famous feud, quickly agreed to perform at a tribute concert.
Stevie Wonder was among the stars who visited Aretha in her final days, and
Michael Jackson — despite his devotion to
Diana Ross — had long considered Aretha to be his professional mentor.
Photo credit: Getty Images
The future Queen of Soul was a mother of two by the time she was 14! Aretha’s grandmother and sister helped raise her young boys while she worked on furthering her musical career. Aretha would have two more sons later in life — with
all four of her kids having different fathers.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Aretha sang for
Jimmy Carter,
Barack Obama and
Bill Clinton, who presented her with the 1999 National Medal of Arts. Clinton was said to be smitten with the star, and even reportedly penned her flirty notes that same year. “Bill just has this thing for Aretha Franklin,” dished an insider.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
Her jaw-dropping
performance for Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015, changed her life, said an insider, who added, “Aretha felt peace and love flowing to her from Pope Francis.” Afterward, the singer was “over the moon” and felt “blessed.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
But plenty of performers united in hailing Aretha on social media when it was announced that the legendary diva was on her deathbed.
Gladys Knight,who had once defended Dionne over Aretha in one famous feud, quickly agreed to perform at a tribute concert.
Stevie Wonder was among the stars who visited Aretha in her final days, and
Michael Jackson — despite his devotion to
Diana Ross — had long considered Aretha to be his professional mentor.
Photo credit: Getty Images
