ARETHA Franklin died aged 76 on August 16, 2018.
Dubbed the Queen of Soul and considered one of the greatest voices ever, here’s everything we know about Aretha.
Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer
Who was Aretha Franklin?
Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 25, 1942.
She moved to Detroit, Michigan, by the time she was five.
The 76-year-old music icon started singing in her Baptist church as a little girl, where her father was a minister.
Her powerful voice and soulful tone singled her out as something special.
Franklin launched a secular music career aged 18, but it was in 1967 when she signed with Atlantic Records that her star began to soar.
How did Aretha Franklin die?
In 2010, the singer cancelled concerts after she decided to have surgery for an undisclosed tumour. She denied reports that it was for pancreatic cancer.
In August 2018 following reports that she was ill, famous fans, including Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott rallied around the star posting their thoughts and prayers on Twitter.
On August 14 2018, CNN reported that the star was in hospice care and Associated Press said that she had been visited by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
On August 16 2018, the Memphis-born singer passed away in Detroit on Thursday surrounded by her loved ones with the cause confirmed as advanced pancreatic cancer.
On August 28 2018, the singer was laid to rest in a glittering gold coffin and in high heels after her loyal fans had a chance to pay their final respects to the true Queen of Soul.
What was Aretha Franklin’s net worth?
The soul Queen was estimated to be worth around £47million having amassed a fortune through her dazzling music career.
Rolling Stone magazine had named her the greatest singer of all time.
Merging gospel, soul and pop, her powerful voice cemented her place in music history.
Aretha had won 18 Grammy Awards and had received America’s highest civilian award, The Presidential Medal Of Freedom.
What are Aretha Franklin’s greatest hits?
Aretha had two No1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), with George Michael, and Respect.
She was behind a raft of classic hits including (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, which peaked at No8, and I Say A Little Prayer, which rose to No10.
Other hits included:
- Spanish Harlem
- Chain of Fools
- Think
- I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
- Baby I Love You
- The House That Jack Built
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Until You Come Back to Me
- Who’s Zoomin’ Who
- A Deeper Love
She had five UK Top 10s but only topped the charts once with her duet with George Michael.
Aretha also made memorable appearances in The Blues Brothers movies belting out the classic Think.
Who were Aretha Franklin’s ex-husbands?
She was married twice, first to Theodore “Ted” White aged 19.
The pair separated in 1969 amid claims of domestic abuse towards her.
She then wed Peyton Place actor Glynn Turman in 1978 becoming stepmother to his three children.
They divorced in 1984.
At one point, Franklin had plans to walk down the aisle with longtime companion Willie Wilkerson.
Franklin and Wilkerson had two previous engagements stretching back to 1988.
She eventually called the 2012 engagement off.
How many children did Aretha Franklin have?
She was just 12 years old when she first fell pregnant with son Clarence, his dad was school friend Donald Burk.
Then again aged 14, she had another son Edward named after his father, Edward Jordan.
Franklin’s third child, Ted White, Jr, was born in February 1964 and is known professionally as Teddy Richards who has played guitar backing for his mum.
Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, born March 28, 1970, is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham.
