Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul” whose unmistakable, booming voice helped define a music genre and provided an inspirational soundtrack for Civil Rights-era struggles, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 76.
The singer influenced generation after generation over six decades of iconic music, which came full circle with her enduring talent, activism and patriotism on full display in 2009 when she once again inspired a nation, performing "My Country, 'Tis Of Thee" at President Obama's first inauguration.
Franklin's family, the music industry and the world mourned the monumental loss Thursday.
"It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Aretha Louise Franklin," her family said via a statement issued by her longtime representative. "Franklin ... passed away on Thursday morning, August 16 at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit, MI, surrounded by family and loved ones. Franklin’s official cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type."
(MORE: 'Outpouring of love' from actors, musicians mourning the death of icon Aretha Franklin)Calling the loss "one of the darkest moments of our lives," family members said they "are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart."
"We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds,” the statement continued. “We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days, the statement said.
Known simply by her first name, Franklin was a cultural icon whose career spanned six decades and traversed various genres of music, from gospel to R&B to pop to opera.
Among her countless hits were the soul classics, "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Chain of Fools," "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," and "Think." Other hits included "Daydreaming" and "I Say a Little Prayer."
Franklin canceled two concerts in March and April 2018, citing doctors' orders, after previously announcing in February 2017 she planned to retire from performing that year.
She had not performed publicly since Elton John's annual AIDS benefit gala in November 2017.
In the 1980s, Franklin earned her first platinum album with the hits "Freeway of Love," "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" and "Who's Zoomin' Who?" She also scored an international number-one hit with "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," her duet with George Michael.
Franklin's performances were legendary, whether it was drawing a crowd to her father Rev. C.L. Franklin's church, paying tribute to close family friend Martin Luther King Jr. with "Precious Lord" at his funeral, stunning the 1998 Grammy crowd with her performance of "Nessun Dorma" while filling in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti, upstaging her fellow divas on VH1's "Divas Live," singing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and nearly being upstaged by her hat, or giving props to her heir apparent Adele with her mashup of "Rolling in the Deep" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of Barbara and Clarence LaVaughn Franklin. Her father was an itinerant preacher whose "million-dollar voice" later earned him fame and fortune in the pulpit and drew the likes of James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and Martin Luther King, Jr. to his New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.
There, Aretha Franklin began singing solos at age 10, soon after her mother, an accomplished piano player and vocalist, died. Franklin's grandmother, Rachel, and gospel legend Mahalia Jackson helped raise Franklin and her siblings, and her father began managing her gospel career when she turned 14. At 18, she branched out into pop music, releasing her first secular album in 1961 and immediately scoring hits on the R&B and pop charts.
Topping the list of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 greatest singers of all time in 2010, Franklin earned 18 Grammy Awards throughout her career as well as Grammy lifetime achievement and living legend awards. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2005, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor.
Franklin was mother to four sons, including Ted White Jr., or Teddy Richards, who has played backup guitar at his mother's live concerts. She was married twice, to Ted White from 1961 to 1969, and to actor Glynn Turman from 1978 to 1984. She was also once engaged to longtime companion Willie Wilkerson.
As soon as the news of Franklin's passing broke, it sent shockwaves felt around the music industry.
One of her mentors and frequent collaborators, Clive Davis, wrote, "I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness."
I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. (1/2)
— Clive Davis (@CliveDavis) August 16, 2018
Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness. (2/2)
— Clive Davis (@CliveDavis) August 16, 2018
Barbra Streisand added, "It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her."
This photo was taken in 2012 when Aretha & I performed at a tribute celebration for our friend Marvin Hamlisch. It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer,but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world pic.twitter.com/Px9zVB90MM
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) August 16, 2018
And Sir Elton John also mourned, "She sang and played magnificently, and we all wept. We were witnessing the greatest soul artist of all time. I adored her and worshipped her talent. God bless her."
The whole world will miss her but will always rejoice in her remarkable legacy. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. #RIPArethaFranklin
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 16, 2018
Elton xx
