Major events in the Queen of Soul’s life
March 1942
Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tenn. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, would move the family briefly to Buffalo before settling in Detroit when Aretha was two. She would call the city home for most of her life, and would always be closely associated with its massive musical legacy. 1956
Franklin releases her first album, a gospel collection called Songs of Faith, recorded at her father’s church when shewas14. 1961
Franklin marries her manager, Ted White. Their troubled eight-year union is believed to have inspired her performances on many songs.
February 1961
Franklin releases her first album for Columbia Records. She would have only minor hits in her six years with the label, which pushed her toward jazz and show tunes and away from her gospel roots. November 1966
Franklin signs with Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler encourages her to embrace her classic soul-and-gospel sound. Several classic songs immediately followed, including (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and
Chain of Fools. February 1967 Respect, Franklin’s career-defining anthem, is recorded. The song would reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, win Franklin two Grammys and make her an international star. A month later it would be the opening track on her breakthrough album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. January 1977
Franklin sings God Bless America atthe inauguration of Jimmy Carter. June 1980
The hit film comedy The Blues Brothers
is released, with Franklin appearing and singing Think in one of the film’s most popular scenes. It signalled that the 1980s would bring a career revival. July 1985 Freeway of
Love off of Franklin’s Who’s Zooming Who album, becomes her first top 10 hit in more than a decade. January 1987 Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. April 1987 I Knew You Were
Waiting (for Me) ,a duet with George Michael, reaches No. 1 on the pop chart. December 1994
Franklin, at age 52, becomes the youngest person ever chosen for the Kennedy Center honours. In his tribute, President Bill Clinton said he and the first lady considered her among their favourite artists. “You could say that Hillary and I went to college and law school with Aretha because there was scarcely a day when we didn’t listen to one of her songs,” said the president. September 1999
She receives the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award from President Bill Clinton, who says Franklin “brought sunshine to a rainy day and tenderness to a hardened heart.” November 2005
President George Bush presents her with the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civil award. February 2008
Franklin wins her last Grammy Award —her-18th—for-Best-Gospel Performance for Never Gonna Break My Faith with Mary J. Blige. January 2009
Franklin
sings My Country, ‘Tis of Thee at the inauguration of Obama. October 2014 Franklin’s cover of Adele’s Rolling in