(Photo Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
The queen of soul has passed away at the age of 76.
Listen to our very own Shaila as she gets up close an personal with her soror, the ‘Queen of Soul,’ Aretha Franklin.
After a fight with cancer, the legendary singer known for classic songs such as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools” passed away at her home in Detroit this morning (Aug. 16) at approximately 9:50 am.
The legendary singer’s family released an official statement through a longtime family friend and Franklin’s publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn.
The Grammy-winning performer was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the age 45.
Franklin has struggled with health issues for quite some time, but the public learned about the severity of her condition earlier this week when reports stating she’s “gravely ill” surfaced.
The Queen of Soul announced that she would no longer be doing any live performances due to doctor’s orders given last year (2017). Franklin took her final bow in Novmeber (of last year) at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Fundraiser, where she sang “Natural Woman.”
Aretha delivered 20 No. 1 R&B hits over the span of a six-decade career.
Our prayers go out to friends and family.
The New York Times Remembers Aretha Franklin | NYT News