Signposts
Aretha Franklin releases her first album, a gospel collection called recorded at her father’s church when she was 14.
Franklin marries her manager, Ted White. Their troubled eight-year union inspired her performances.
Franklin releases her first album for Columbia Records. She would have only minor hits in her six years with the label.
Franklin signs with Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler encourages her to embrace her classic soul-and-gospel sound.
Franklin’s career-defining anthem, is No 1 on the Billboard pop chart, winning her 2 Grammys and making her an international star.
A live gospel album, ,is released amid a revival in spiritual music. It sold more than 2 million copies and is among Franklin’s biggest hits.
Franklin sings the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.
The hit film comedy is released, with Franklin appearing and singing in one of the film’s most popular scenes.
at
from
Who album becomes her first top 10 hit in a decade.
,a duet with George Michael, is No 1 on the pop chart.
Franklin, at age 52, becomes the youngest person ever chosen for the Kennedy Centre honours.
She receives the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award from President Bill Clinton.
President George Bush presents her with the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Franklin wins her last Grammy Award, her 18th, for
with Mary J Blige. She is also a Grammy Lifetime Achievement and a Living Legend awardee.
Franklin sings of Barack Obama.
at the inauguration
Franklin’s cover of Adele’s reaches No 47 on Billboard’s R & B chart. It’s her 100th charting single, and she’s the first woman to reach the milestone.