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{{Infobox musical artist
|name=Aretha Franklin
|image=Aretha Franklin on January 20, 2009.jpg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - ALBUM COVERS ARE NOT ALLOWED! - see [[WP:NONFREE]] -->
|caption = Franklin performing at President [[Barack Obama]]'s [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|inauguration]] in 2009
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Aretha Louise Franklin
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|3|25}}
|birth_place = [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
|occupation = [[Singer]]
|years_active = 1956–present
|genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[soul music|soul]], [[jazz]], [[gospel music|gospel]]
|instrument = [[Vocals]], [[piano]]
|label = [[Battle Records (record label)|J.V.B.]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Arista Records|Arista]], [[RCA Records|RCA]]
|associated_acts = [[Sweet Inspirations]], [[Carolyn Franklin]], [[Erma Franklin]], [[Cissy Houston]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[George Benson]], [[George Michael]], [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]], [[Eurythmics]], [[Luther Vandross]]
|origin = [[Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.
}}

'''Aretha Louise Franklin''' (born March 25, 1942) is an American [[singer]] and [[musician]]. Franklin began her career singing [[gospel music|gospel]] at her father, [[minister (Christianity)|minister]] [[C. L. Franklin]]'s [[New Bethel Baptist Church (Detroit, Michigan)|church]] as a child. In 1960, at age 18, Franklin embarked on a [[secular music|secular career]], recording for [[Columbia Records]] only achieving modest success. Following her signing to [[Atlantic Records]] in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "[[Respect (song)|Respect]]", "[[(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman]]" and "[[Think (Aretha Franklin song)|Think]]". These hits and more helped her to gain the title [[Honorific nicknames in popular music|The Queen of Soul]] by the end of the [[1960s in music|1960s decade]].

Franklin eventually recorded a total of 88 charted singles on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', including 77 [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] entries and twenty number-one [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B singles]], becoming the most charted female artist in the chart's history. Franklin also recorded acclaimed albums such as ''[[I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You]]'', ''[[Lady Soul]]'', ''[[Young, Gifted & Black]]'' and ''[[Amazing Grace (Aretha Franklin album)|Amazing Grace]]'' before experiencing problems with her record company by the mid-[[1970s in music|1970s]]. After her father was shot in 1979, Franklin left Atlantic and signed with [[Arista Records]], finding success with a cameo role in the film, ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'' and with the albums, ''[[Jump to It]]'' and ''[[Who's Zoomin' Who]]''. In 1998, Franklin won international acclaim for singing the opera aria, "[[Nessun Dorma]]", at the [[Grammy Awards of 1998|Grammys of that year]] replacing [[Luciano Pavarotti]]. Later that same year, she scored her final Top 40 recording with "[[A Rose Is Still a Rose (song)|A Rose Is Still a Rose]]".

Franklin has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling female artists of all time]], having sold over 75 million records worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.callandpost.com/index.php/entertainment/music/1329-thats-dr-aretha-franklin-to-you|title= That’s Dr. Aretha Franklin to you|publisher=[[Call and Post]]|date=2011-11-02}}</ref> Franklin has been honored throughout her career including a 1987 [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees|induction]] into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], in which she became the first female performer to be inducted. She was inducted to the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] in 2005. In August 2012, Franklin was inducted into the [[Gospel Music Association|GMA]] [[Gospel Music Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120814/ENT04/120814088/Aretha-Franklin-inducted-into-Gospel-Music-Hall-of-Fame |title=<nowiki>Aretha Franklin inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame | Music | Detroit Free Press | freep.com</nowiki>}}</ref> Franklin is listed in at least two all-time lists on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, including the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, in which she placed number 9, and the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in which she topped the latter list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/aretha-franklin-20101202|title=100 Greatest Singers: Aretha Franklin|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=November 27, 2008|accessdate=May 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/aretha-franklin-20110420|title=100 Greatest Artists of All Time|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=May 16, 2013}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:Aretha Franklin birthplace 406 Lucy Ave Memphis TN 06.jpg|thumb|right|Aretha Franklin's birthplace at 406 Lucy Ave. in [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morethings.com/music/aretha_franklin/photo_gallery13.htm|title=Sister Ree's Scrapbook, An Aretha Franklin Photo Gallery 13|accessdate=November 6, 2010}}</ref>]]

Aretha Louise Franklin was born in [[Memphis, Tennessee]], the daughter of [[Barbara Siggers Franklin|Barbara (née) Siggers]] and [[C. L. Franklin|Clarence LaVaughn Franklin]]. Her father, who went by the nickname, "C. L.", was an itinerant preacher originally from [[Shelby, Mississippi]], while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist.{{sfn|Bego|2010|p=11}} Alongside Aretha, her parents had three other children while both C. L. and Barbara had children from outside their marriage. The family relocated to [[Buffalo, New York]] when Aretha was two. Prior to her fifth birthday, C. L. Franklin permanently relocated the family to [[Detroit, Michigan]] where he founded the [[Baptist]] church, [[New Bethel Baptist Church (Detroit, Michigan)|New Bethel]]. Franklin's parents had a troubled marriage due to stories of C. L. Franklin's [[philandering]] and in 1948, they separated, with Barbara relocating back to Buffalo with her son, Vaughn, from a previous affair.

Contrary to popular notion, Franklin's mother didn't [[child abandonment|abandon]] her children and Aretha would recall seeing her mother in Buffalo during summertime while Barbara also frequently visited her children in Detroit.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|pp=19-20}} Franklin's mother died on March 7, 1952, prior to Franklin's tenth birthday. Several women, including Franklin's grandmother Rachel, and [[Mahalia Jackson]] took turns helping with the children at the Franklin home.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|p=22}} During this time, Franklin learned how to play piano by ear.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|pp=20-21}} Franklin's father's emotionally-driven sermons resulted in him being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice" and earning over thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country.{{sfn|Dobkin|2006|p=48}}{{sfn|Feiler|2009|p=248}} Franklin's celebrity led to his home being visited by various celebrities including gospel musicians [[Clara Ward]], [[James Cleveland]] and early [[The Caravans|Caravans]] members [[Albertina Walker]] and [[Inez Andrews]] as well as [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], [[Jackie Wilson]] and [[Sam Cooke]].<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-19/entertainment/ct-ent-1220-inez-andrews-obit-20121219_1_albertina-walker-gospel-inez-andrews</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/arts/music/inez-andrews-gospel-singer-dies-at-83.html?_r=0</ref>

==Music career==

===Beginnings===
Just after her mother's death, Aretha began singing solos at New Bethel, debuting with the hymn, "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me".{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|p=22}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/5151565-421/roots--of-soul.html|title=Aretha Franklin’s roots of soul|author=Dave Hoekstra|date=12 May 2011|publisher=''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> Four years later, when Aretha was 14, her father began [[career management|managing]] her, bringing her on the road with him during his so-called "gospel caravan" tours for her to perform in various churches.<ref name="Jillian Carool">{{cite book|last=Carroll|first=Jillian|title=Aretha Franklin|year=2004|publisher=Raintree|location=Chicago|isbn=0-7398-7029-7|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7nhDFoq_iQEC&pg=PA15}}</ref> He helped his daughter get signed to her first recording deal with J.V.B. Records, where her first album, ''[[Songs of Faith (Aretha Franklin album)|Songs of Faith]]'', was issued in 1956. Two singles were released to gospel radio stations including "Never Grow Old" and "[[Precious Lord, Take My Hand]]". Franklin sometimes traveled with the Caravans and [[The Soul Stirrers]] during this time and developed a crush on Sam Cooke, who was then singing with the Soul Stirrers prior to his secular career.

After turning 18, Aretha confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke to record pop music. Serving as her manager, C. L. agreed to the move and helped to produce a two-song demo that soon was brought to the attention of [[Columbia Records]], who agreed to sign her in 1960. Franklin was signed as a "five-percent artist".{{sfn|Ebony|1964|p=88}} During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer [[Cholly Atkins]] to prepare for her pop performances. Before signing with Columbia, Sam Cooke tried to persuade Aretha's father to have his label, [[RCA Records|RCA]] sign Aretha. He had also been persuaded by local record label owner [[Berry Gordy]] to sign Aretha and her elder sister [[Erma Franklin|Erma]] to his [[Motown Records|Tamla]] label. Aretha's father felt the label wasn't established enough yet. Aretha's first Columbia single, "Today I Sung the Blues", was issued in September 1960 and later reached the top ten of the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers]] chart.

===Initial success===
In [[1961 in music|January 1961]], Columbia issued Aretha's debut album, ''[[Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo]]''. The album featured her first single to chart the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, "Won't Be Long", which also peaked at number 7 on the R&B chart. Mostly produced by [[Clyde Otis]], Franklin's Columbia recordings saw her recording in diverse genres such as [[standard (song)|standards]], [[vocal jazz]], [[blues]], [[doo-wop]] and [[rhythm and blues]]. Before the year was out, Franklin scored her first top 40 single with her rendition of the standard, "[[Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody]]", which also included the R&B hit, "Operation Heartbreak", on its b-side. "Rock-a-Bye" became her first international hit, reaching the top 40 in Australia and Canada. By the end of 1961, Franklin was named as a "new-star female vocalist" in ''[[Down Beat]]'' magazine.{{sfn|Ebony|1964|p=85}} In 1962, Columbia issued two more albums, ''[[The Electrifying Aretha Franklin]]'' and ''[[The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin]]'', the latter of which charted number 69 on the [[Billboard 200|Billboard Pop LPs]] chart.

By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top ten on the R&B chart with the ballad, "Runnin' Out of Fools" in early 1965. She had two R&B charted singles in 1965 and 1966 with the songs "One Step Ahead" and "Cry Like a Baby" while also reaching the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|Easy Listening]] charts with the ballads "[[You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)|You Made Me Love You]]" and "(No, No) I'm Losing You". By the mid-1960s, Aretha was netting $100,000 from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters.{{sfn|Ebony|1964|p=85}} Also during that period, Franklin appeared on rock and roll shows such as ''[[Hollywood A Go-Go]]'' and ''[[Shindig!]]''. However, it was argued that Franklin's potential was neglected at the label. Columbia executive [[John H. Hammond]] later said he felt Columbia didn't understand Aretha's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her Columbia period.<ref name=pc52>{{Gilliland|http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19834/m1|Show 52 – The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 8&#93; : UNT Digital Library}}</ref>

===Commercial success===
[[File:Aretha Franklin.png|thumb|right|Aretha Franklin in 1967.]]

In January 1967, choosing not to renew her Columbia contract after six years with the company, Franklin signed to Atlantic Records. That month, Aretha traveled to [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama]] to record at [[FAME Studios]] to record the song, "[[I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)]]" in front of the musicians of the famed [[Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section]].<ref name=pc52/> The song was later issued that February and shot up to number-one on the R&B chart, while also peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Aretha her first top ten pop single. The song's b-side, "[[Do Right Woman, Do Right Man]]", reached the R&B top 40, peaking at number 37. In April, Atlantic issued her frenetic version of [[Otis Redding]]'s "[[Respect (song)|Respect]]", which shot to number-one on both the R&B and pop charts and later became her [[signature song]] and was later hailed as a [[American Civil Rights Movement|civil rights]] and [[feminist movement|feminist]] anthem.<ref name=pc52/>

Aretha's debut Atlantic album, ''[[I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You]]'', also became commercially successful, later going gold. Aretha scored two more top ten singles in 1967 including "[[Baby I Love You (Aretha Franklin song)|Baby I Love You]]" and "[[(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman]]". Franklin's rapport with producer [[Jerry Wexler]] helped in the creation of the majority of Aretha's peak recordings with Atlantic. In 1968, she issued the top-selling albums, ''[[Lady Soul]]'' and ''[[Aretha Now]]'', which included some of Franklin's most popular hit singles including "[[Chain of Fools]]", "[[Ain't No Way]]", "[[Think (Aretha Franklin song)|Think]]" and "[[I Say a Little Prayer]]". In February 1968, Franklin earned the first two of her Grammys including the debut category for [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]].<ref name=8grammies>[[Natalie Cole]] broke Franklin's "Best Female R&B Vocal Performance" winning streak with her 1975 single "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" (which, ironically, was originally offered to Franklin).</ref> On February 16, 1968, Aretha was honored with a day in her honor and was greeted by longtime friend [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] who gave her the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference|SCLC]] Drum Beat Award for Musicians just two months prior to his death.{{sfn|Dobkin|2006|p=5}}{{sfn|Whitaker|2011|p=315}}{{sfn|Bego|2010|p=107}} In June 1968, she appeared on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine.<ref name="TIME magazine - 28Jun1968 - cover - Aretha Franklin">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19680628,00.html|title=TIME Magazine Cover: Aretha Franklin|date=June 28, 1968 |work=[[Time Magazine|Time]]|accessdate=September 30, 2011}}</ref>

{{listen|filename=Respect_sample.ogg|title="Respect"|description="Respect" was a huge hit for Franklin, it became a signature song for her.|format=[[Ogg]]}}

Franklin's success expanded during the early 1970s in which she recorded top ten singles such as "[[Spanish Harlem (song)|Spanish Harlem]]", "[[Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin song)|Rock Steady]]" and "[[Day Dreaming (Aretha Franklin song)|Day Dreaming]]" as well as the acclaimed albums, ''[[Spirit in the Dark]]'', ''[[Young, Gifted & Black]]'' and her gospel album, ''[[Amazing Grace (Aretha Franklin album)|Amazing Grace]]'', which sold over two million copies. In 1971, Franklin became the first R&B performer to headline [[Fillmore West]], later recording the live album, ''[[Aretha Live at Fillmore West]]''.<ref name="Bill Graham">{{cite web|title= Aretha Franklin songs|url=http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/aretha-franklin/songs}} – from the Bill Graham archives; requires free login. <!-- Editors: These are fully legal and licensed. See http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/concerts/support/about-concert-vault.html --></ref> Franklin's career began experiencing issues while recording the album, ''[[Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)]]'', which featured production from [[Quincy Jones]]. Despite the success of the single, "[[Angel (Aretha Franklin song)|Angel]]", the album bombed upon its release in 1973. Franklin continued having R&B success with songs such as "[[Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)|Until You Come Back to Me]]" and "[[I'm in Love (Bobby Womack song)|I'm in Love]]" but by 1975, her albums and songs were failing to become a success. After [[Jerry Wexler]] left Atlantic for [[Warner Bros. Records]] in 1976, Franklin worked on the [[Sparkle (Aretha Franklin album)|soundtrack]] to the film, "[[Sparkle (1976 film)|Sparkle]]", with [[Curtis Mayfield]]. The album yielded Aretha's final top 40 hit of the decade, "[[Something He Can Feel]]", which also peaked at number-one on the R&B chart. Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic including ''[[Sweet Passion]]'', ''[[Almighty Fire]]'' and ''[[La Diva (Aretha Franklin album)|La Diva]]'' bombed on the charts and in 1979, Franklin opted to leave the company.

===Later years===
[[File:arethafranklin.jpg|thumb|right|Franklin performing on April 21, 2007, at the Nokia Theater in Dallas, Texas.]]

In 1980, Franklin signed with [[Clive Davis]]' [[Arista Records]] and that same year, gave a [[Royal Command Performance|command performance]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in front of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]]. Aretha also made an acclaimed guest role as a waitress in the comedy musical, ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]''. Franklin's first Arista album, ''[[Aretha (1980 album)|Aretha]]'', featured the #3 R&B hit, "United Together" and her Grammy-nominated cover of Otis Redding's "[[I Can't Turn You Loose]]". The follow-up, 1981's ''[[Love All the Hurt Away]]'', included her famed duet of the title track with [[George Benson]] while the album also included her Grammy-winning cover of [[Sam & Dave]]'s "[[Hold On, I'm A Comin'|Hold On, I'm Comin']]". Franklin returned to the Gold standard - for the first time in seven years - with the album, ''[[Jump to It]]''. Its [[Jump to It (song)|title track]] was her first top 40 single on the pop charts in six years.

In 1985, inspired by her desire to have a "younger sound" in her music, her fourth Arista album, ''[[Who's Zoomin' Who]]'', became her first album to be certified [[List of music recording certifications|platinum]], after selling well over a million copies, thanks to the hits, "[[Freeway of Love]]", the title track and "[[Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves]]".<ref>[[Rolling Stone]] magazine, "Aretha Franklin's New Wave of Pop" by Eliza Graham, page 11.</ref> The following year's ''[[Aretha (1986 album)|Aretha]]'' album nearly matched this success with the hit singles "[[Jumpin' Jack Flash]]", "[[Jimmy Lee (song)|Jimmy Lee]]" and "[[I Knew You Were Waiting for Me]]", her international number-one duet with [[George Michael]]. During that period, Aretha provided vocals to the theme songs of the shows, ''[[A Different World]]'' and ''Together''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-07-18/features/8602120160_1_abc-tv-aretha-franklin-brock-walsh|title=Writer's Ballad Tapped For Abc-tv Fall Theme|author=Patrick Goldstein|date=18 July 1986|publisher=''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]''|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> In 1987, she issued her third gospel album, ''[[One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism]]'', which was recorded at her late father's New Bethel church, followed by ''Through the Storm'' in 1989. Franklin's 1991 album, ''What You See is What You Sweat'' flopped on the charts. Franklin returned to the charts in 1993 with the dance song, "A Deeper Love" and returned to the top 40 with the song, "Willing to Forgive" in 1994.

In 1998, Franklin returned to the top 40 with the [[Lauryn Hill]]-produced song, "[[A Rose Is Still a Rose (song)|A Rose Is Still a Rose]]", later issuing the [[A Rose Is Still a Rose|album of the same name]], which went gold. That same year, Franklin earned international acclaim for her performance of "[[Nessun Dorma]]" at the [[Grammy Awards of 1998|Grammy Awards]]. Her final Arista album, ''[[So Damn Happy (Aretha Franklin album)|So Damn Happy]]'', was released in 2003 and featured the Grammy-winning song, "Wonderful". In 2004, Franklin announced that she was leaving Arista after over 20 years with the label. To complete her Arista obligations, Aretha issued the duets compilation album, ''[[Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen]]'', in 2007. The following year, she issued the holiday album, ''[[This Christmas, Aretha]]'', on DMI Records. In January 2009, Franklin again made international headlines for performing "[[My Country 'Tis of Thee]]" at [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]]'s [[first inauguration of Barack Obama|inaugural ceremony]] with her church hat becoming a popular topic online. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from [[Yale University]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2010/may/24/univ-confers-3243-degrees-at-309th-commencement|first=Lauren|last=Rosenthal|publisher=Yale Daily News|date=May 24, 2010|title=Univ. confers 3,243 degrees at 309th Commencement|accessdate=November 30, 2010}}</ref> In 2011, under her own label, Aretha's Records, she issued the album, ''[[Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love]]''. As of 2013, Franklin is now signed under [[RCA Records]] and is currently working again with Clive Davis. A new album is in the works with producers [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] and [[Danger Mouse]] planning to work with Franklin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-05-10/entertainment/39156318_1_aretha-franklin-audra-mcdonald-biopic|title=Q&A: Aretha Franklin talks about Gospelfest and new album|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 10, 2013|accessdate=May 17, 2013}}</ref>

==Music style and image==
Franklin has often been described as a great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience."{{sfn|Dobkin|2006|p=8}} Franklin's voice has been described as being a "powerful mezzo-soprano voice" and has been praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists' hit songs.{{sfn|Whitaker|2011|p=312}} Of describing Franklin's voice as a youngster on her first album, ''[[Songs of Faith (Aretha Franklin album)|Songs of Faith]]'', released when she was just fourteen, [[Jerry Wexler]] explained that Franklin's voice "was not that of a child but rather of an ecstatic [[hierophant]]."{{sfn|McMahon|2000|p=373}} In describing ''[[American Idol]]'' contestant [[Adam Lambert]]'s voice in a 2012 interview, rocker [[Meat Loaf]] compared Lambert's voice to that of Franklin's and [[Whitney Houston]], as being based off "that jet pack quality to their voice that just lets it take off".<ref>{{cite news|title=Meat Loaf Q&A: Rock Legend on Getting Bullied Over His Weight, Turning Down 'Idol" and Why the Country Is Going to 'Hell'|url=http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/06/meat-loaf-hell-in-a-handbasket/|author=Epting, Chris|date=March 6, 2012|accessdate=May 27, 2013}}</ref> Franklin's image went through rapid changes throughout her career. During the 1960s, Franklin was known for wearing bouffant hairdos and extravagant dresses that were sometimes surrounded enveloped in either mink fur or feathers. In the 1970s, embracing her roots, Franklin briefly wore the Afro hairdo and wore Afrocentric styled clothing admired by her peers. In the mid-1970s, after dropping weight, Franklin began wearing slinkier attire. By the 1980s, she had settled on wearing [[nightgown]]s and extravagant dresses.

==Personal life==
[[File:Aretha Franklin US Open 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Aretha Franklin and William Wilkerson watching Roger Federer at the [[2011 US Open (tennis)|2011 US Open]].]]

Aretha is the mother of four sons. Her first two children, Clarence (born January 28, 1955), and Edward (born January 22, 1957), were born before her 13th and 15th birthdays.<ref>{{cite book|author=Nick Salvatore|title=Singing in a Strange Land: C.L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America|publisher=Little Brown|year=2005|isbn=0-316-16037-7|oclc=56104283|pages=203–204, 224|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bRDAQSK9DlkC&pg=PA203}}</ref> She has never identified the father of either child. During that period, Aretha's grandmother, Rachel, and sister, Erma, raised Aretha's boys while she pursued her musical career and other options including "hanging out with my friends".{{sfn|Ebony|1995|p=32}} Rachel lived in a guest house behind her son C. L. Franklin's LaSalle Street home, with the Franklins having moved there from their Boston Street residence during the late 1950s. Aretha's third child, Ted White, Jr., was born in 1964. Today he is known as [[Teddy Richards]] and is a professional musician, often playing guitar in his mother's band.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/music/aretha-franklin-gets-engaged-163296|title=Aretha Franklin gets engaged|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=3 January 2012|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> In 1970, an affair with her road manager, Ken Cunningham, resulted in the birth of Aretha's fourth son, Kecalf. (His name was devised from the first initials of his parents' names.) Aretha had married the much older Ted White in 1961, despite strong objections from her father. After a contentious marriage that involved [[domestic violence]], she divorced him in 1969.{{sfn|Bego|2010|pp=125-126}} She married actor [[Glynn Turman]] on April 11, 1978 at her father's [[New Bethel Baptist Church]]. Aretha subsequently became a stepmother to Turman's three children. They split in late 1982 and officially divorced in early 1984. In 2012, Aretha Franklin again announced plans to walk down the aisle with her longtime companion Willie Wilkerson.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/02/showbiz/aretha-franklin-engaged/?hpt=hp_c2 | work=CNN | title=Soul singer Aretha Franklin is engaged | date=January 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/celebritybuzz/2012/01/aretha-franklin-to-get-married-this-summer/ |title=Aretha Franklin to get married this summer &#124; Celebrity Buzz &#124; a Chron.com blog |publisher=Blog.chron.com |date=2012-01-02 |accessdate=2012-05-13}}</ref> Within several weeks of the announcement, Aretha called the wedding off.

Aretha's sisters Erma and [[Carolyn Franklin|Carolyn]] were also professional musicians and often sung background on Aretha's hits. In 1969, following her divorce from Ted White, her brother, minister Cecil Franklin presided as her manager, a position he kept until his death from lung cancer on December 26, 1989. Youngest sister Carolyn preceded Cecil in death in April 1988 following a long bout with breast cancer. Erma Franklin later died of throat cancer in September 2002. Franklin's half-brother, Vaughn (born December 24, 1934) and half-sister Carl Kelley (née Jennings; born 1940) are still alive. Kelley is C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a then 12-year-old congregant of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis, where C. L. was pastor.<ref>Salvatore, Nick, ''Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America'', Little Brown, 2005, Hardcover ISBN 0-316-16037-7, pp. 61–62</ref>

Aretha was performing at the [[Aladdin Hotel]] in Las Vegas, on June 10, 1979, when her father was shot twice at point blank range in his Detroit home.{{sfn|Baltimore Afro-American|1979}} After six months in [[Henry Ford Hospital]], the Franklin family returned their father back to his home with round the clock nursing care. The shooting had left C. L. in a coma. Aretha moved back to Detroit in late 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died at Detroit's New Light Nursing Home on July 27, 1984.{{sfn|Jet|1984}}

Franklin had been romantically linked to many musicians such as [[Sam Cooke]] and [[Dennis Edwards]], formerly of [[The Temptations]]. Some of her music business friends have included Dionne Warwick, Mavis Staples, and [[Cissy Houston]], who began singing with Aretha as member of the [[Sweet Inspirations]]. Cissy sang background on Franklin's classic hit, "Ain't No Way".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/02/17/who-is-cissy-houston-a-primer|title=Who Is Cissy Houston? A Primer|author=Roger Friedman|publisher=[[Showbiz411]]|date=17 February 2012|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> Aretha first met her daughter, [[Whitney Houston|Whitney]], in the early 1970s.<ref name=meetingaretha>{{cite web|last=Whitall|first=Susan|title=Aretha Franklin recalls meeting a young Whitney Houston|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120217/ENT09/202170397/1361/Aretha-Franklin-recalls-meeting-a-young-Whitney-Houston|work=Aretha Franklin, who will sing at Whitney Houston's funeral Saturday, spoke to Al Roker on the "Today" show Friday morning about the first time she met Houston, as a wide-eyed 8- or 9-year-old.|publisher=The Detroit News|accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref> She was made an honorary aunt and Whitney often referred to her as "Auntie Ree".<ref name=honoraryaunt>{{cite web|last=Whitall|first=Susan|title=Aretha Franklin recalls meeting a young Whitney Houston|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120217/ENT09/202170397/1361/Aretha-Franklin-recalls-meeting-a-young-Whitney-Houston|work=The Queen of Soul corrected one thing about her relationship to Houston. She says she wasn't Houston's godmother, but a sort of honorary aunt.|publisher=The Detroit News|accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref> Whitney Houston died in February 2012.<ref name="edition.cnn.com">{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/11/showbiz/whitney-houston-dead/?hpt=hp_t1 | work=CNN | title=Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48 - CNN.com | date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> Franklin stated she was surprised by her death.<ref name="edition.cnn.com"/> She had initially planned to perform at Houston's memorial service on February 18 but her representative claimed that Aretha suffered a mild leg spasm and was unable to attend. In response to criticism of her non-attendance, she stated, "God knows I wanted to be there, but I couldn't."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://watch.accesshollywood.com/search/aretha-franklin-talks-turning-70-years-old-shares-update-on-her-health/1531031155001?searchterm=aretha|title=Aretha Franklin Talks Turning 70 Years Old , Shares Update On Her Health|publisher=[[Access Hollywood]]}}</ref>

Aretha Franklin is a registered [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref>On an ABC promo aired on July 27, 2010, announcing Franklin and [[Condoleezza Rice]]'s appearing together in concert there was a segment in which Franklin was being interviewed and she said herself, "I am a Democrat".</ref>

===Weight issues and health problems===
Franklin dealt with weight issues for years. In 1974, she dropped 40 pounds during a crash diet.{{sfn|Ebony|1974}} Franklin maintained the weight loss until 1978.{{sfn|Bego|2010|pp=162-165}} Franklin again lost the weight in the early 1990s prior to releasing the album, ''What You See Is What You Sweat'', gaining it back again after a year and a half. Franklin later admitted to years of yo-yo dieting. Following her surgery to get rid of an undisclosed tumor, Franklin lost 85&nbsp;lbs. In 2012, she admitted she had gained some of the weight back.<ref name=contactnews>{{cite news|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/aretha-franklin-reveals-tumour-scare_1282135|title=Aretha Franklin Reveals Tumour Scare|publisher=Contact News|date=10 January 2012|accessdate=May 26, 2013}}</ref> During her heyday, it's been noted that Franklin had dealt with [[alcoholism]] and also had an addiction to [[chain smoking]], smoking at least ten packs of cigarettes a day. Franklin quit smoking in 1992.{{sfn|Bego|2010|p=305}} Franklin admitted in 1994 that her smoking was "messing with my voice".{{sfn|Ebony|1995|p=30}} She later admitted in 2003 that following her quitting cigarettes, her weight "ballooned".{{sfn|Jet|2003|pp=62-63}}

In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts after she decided to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor.<ref name=contactnews/> Discussing the events in 2011, she stated the surgery Franklin had would "add 15 to 20 more years" to her life. She denied that the ailment had anything to do with [[pancreatic cancer]] as it was rumored.<ref name="cancerrumor">{{cite web | publisher=Access Hollywood | date=January 13, 2011 | url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/aretha-franklin-sets-the-record-straight-on-her-health-i-dont-know-where-pancreatic-cancer-came-from_article_42228 | title=Aretha Franklin Sets The Record Straight On Her Health}}</ref> On May 19, 2011 Aretha Franklin had her comeback show in the Chicago theatre, an outstanding concert.<ref>Aretha Franklin in glorious form at Chicago Theatre, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-05-20/entertainment/ct-live-0521-aretha-franklin-review-20110520_1_chicago-theatre-glorious-form-soul</ref> In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances to deal with an undisclosed medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-aretha-franklin-cancel-shows-treatment-20130513,0,6343514.story|title=Aretha Franklin cancels 2 shows for undisclosed ailment|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 13, 2013|accessdate=May 17, 2013}}</ref> Later in the same month, Franklin canceled three more concerts in June and planned to return to perform in July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/05/22/aretha-franklin-taking-june-off-postponing-shows/2350335/|title=Aretha Franklin taking June off, postponing shows|date=May 22, 2013|accessdate=May 23, 2013}}</ref> However, a July 27 show in [[Clarkston, Michigan]] was canceled due to continued medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57593542/aretha-franklin-cancels-hometown-show-citing-treatment/ |title=Aretha Franklin cancels hometown show citing treatment |publisher=CBSNews.com |date=July 12, 2013 |accessdate=July 12, 2013}}</ref> In addition, Franklin canceled an appearance at an [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] luncheon in Chicago honoring her commitment to [[civil rights]] on an August 24th date.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/19/4420947/aretha-franklin-not-attending.html |title=Aretha Franklin not attending baseball luncheon |date=August 19, 2013 |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> She also canceled a September 21st performance in Atlanta due to her health recovery.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/aretha-franklin-cancels-september-show-sparking-concerns-over-her-health/10709408 |title=Aretha Franklin Cancels September Show, Sparking Concerns Over Her Health |date=August 20, 2013 |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> During a phone interview with [[The Associated Press]] on August 21st, Franklin stated that she had a "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until she was at 100% health, stating she was "85% healed".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/08/21/aretha-franklin-says-shes-85-percent-healed/2680287/ |title=The Queen of Soul is on the mend, but from what? |publisher=USAToday.com |date=August 21, 2013 |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[Image:Aretha Franklin honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.jpg|thumb|Aretha Franklin wipes a tear after being honored with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] on November 9, 2005, at the [[White House]]. Seated with her are fellow recipients [[Robert Conquest]], left, and [[Alan Greenspan]]]]
[[File:ArethaFranklinMadameTussauds.PNG|thumb|left|Aretha Franklin at [[Madame Tussauds]] in New York City.]]

In 1987, Franklin was inducted to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], the first female performer to do so.{{sfn|Ebony|1995|p=29}} Two years prior, the Michigan government labeled her voice as a "natural resource".{{sfn|Bego|2010|p=238}} Franklin received her star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1979. In 1994, she received a medal from the Kennedy Center Honors and that year won the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|NARAS]] [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]]. She won the NARAS [[Grammy Legend Award|Grammy Legend]] award four years prior. In 1999, she earned the [[National Medal of Arts]]. In 2005, she received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]. Franklin was inducted to the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] in 2005, becoming the second female performer to be honored after [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]. In 2008, she received the MusiCares Person of the Year prior to performing at that year's [[Grammy Awards of 2008|Grammys]]. That same year, she was listed in the top 20 of artists on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 all-time top artists list.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-20.shtml The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists]. Billboard.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> In 2012, she was inducted to the [[Gospel Music Association|GMA]] [[Gospel Music Hall of Fame]]. Franklin has been described as "the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of black America" and a "symbol of black equality".<ref name="Matt Dobkin">{{cite book|last=Dobkin|first=Matt|title=I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You: Aretha Franklin, Respect, and the Making Of A Soul Music Masterpiece|year=2006|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|location=New York|isbn=0-312-31828-6|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lHJC0ne4zbAC&pg=PA6=false}}</ref><ref name=bego>{{cite book|last=Bego|first=Mark|title=Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul|year=1989|publisher=St.Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7090-4053-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ErKigdCXUwoC&pg=PA108|page=108}}</ref> She was also listed as number 1 on [[Rolling Stone]]'s list of the Greatest Artists of All Time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/aretha-franklin-20110420|title=100 Greatest Artists: Aretha Franklin|publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=April 20, 2011|accessdate=May 23, 2013}}</ref> In February 2011, following news of her surgery and recovery, the Grammy Awards paid tribute to the singer with a medley of her classics by singers such as [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Florence Welch]], [[Jennifer Hudson]], [[Martina McBride]] and [[Yolanda Adams]].<ref>[http://www.grammy.com/news/stars-to-join-for-aretha-franklin-tribute Grammy Awards tribute to Aretha Franklin]</ref>

==Awards==
{{Main|List of awards received by Aretha Franklin}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Aretha Franklin discography}}

==List of number-one R&B singles==
#"[[I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)]]" (1967)
#"[[Respect (song)|Respect]]" (1967)
#"[[Baby I Love You (Aretha Franklin song)|Baby I Love You]]" (1967)
#"[[Chain of Fools]]" (1967)
#"[[(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone]]" (1968)
#"[[Think (Aretha Franklin song)|Think]]" (1968)
#"[[Share Your Love with Me]]" (1969)
#"[[Call Me (Aretha Franklin song)|Call Me]]" (1970)
#"[[Don't Play That Song (You Lied)]]" (1970)
#"[[Bridge Over Troubled Water (song)|Bridge Over Troubled Water]]" (1971)
#"[[Spanish Harlem (song)|Spanish Harlem]]" (1971)
#"[[Day Dreaming (Aretha Franklin song)|Day Dreaming]]" (1972)
#"[[Angel (Aretha Franklin song)|Angel]]" (1973)
#"[[Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)]]" (1973)
#"[[I'm in Love (Bobby Womack song)|I'm in Love]]" (1974)
#"[[Something He Can Feel]]" (1976)
#"[[Break It to Me Gently]]" (1977)
#"[[Jump to It (song)|Jump to It]]" (1982)
#"[[Get It Right (song)|Get It Right]]" (1983)
#"[[Freeway of Love]]" (1985)

==Filmography==
*''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'' (1980)
*''[[Blues Brothers 2000]]'' (1998)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ErKigdCXUwoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=aretha+franklin+mark+bego&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VbWVUYWmNInM9gSf5YHoAg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA|title=Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul|last=Bego|first=Mark|publisher=Da Capo Press|date=Feb 10, 2010|isbn=978-0-78675-229-4|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Dobkin|first=Matt|title=I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You: Aretha Franklin, Respect, and the Making Of A Soul Music Masterpiece|year=2006|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|location=New York|isbn=0-312-31828-6|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lHJC0ne4zbAC&pg=PA6=false|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Feiler|first=Bruce|title=America's Prophet|publisher=HarperCollins|date=October 6, 2009|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=q3iAylx3HosC&pg=PA248&dq=the+man+with+the+million+dollar+voice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QJ6jUYHfG5DI9QS5xICoCw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=the%20man%20with%20the%20million%20dollar%20voice&f=false|isbn=978-0-06193-925-9|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5KX-3vLoH8EC&printsec=frontcover&dq=aretha+franklin&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7rSVUe2MK4WK8QTHm4GYBw&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=aretha%20franklin&f=false|title=Aretha Franklin|last=McAvoy|first=Jim|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2002|isbn=978-1-43812-161-1|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|title=Creative and Performing Artists for Teens|last=McMahon|first=Thomas|publisher=Gale Group|year=2000|isbn=978-0-78763-975-4|ref=harv}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=4LADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA15&dq=c.l.+franklin+shot&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hp6eUbnUM4vc9QS5yoCgAw&ved=0CDEQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=c.l.%20franklin%20shot&f=false|title=Queen of Soul's Father Rev. C. L. Franklin, 69, Dies After 5 Years In Coma|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|ref={{harvid|Jet|1984}}}}
* {{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2205&dat=19790612&id=noIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V_UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=914,3602210|title=Rev. C. L. Franklin shot|newspaper=[[Baltimore Afro-American]]|date=June 12, 1979|ref={{harvid|Baltimore Afro-American|1979}}}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=W7UDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=aretha+franklin+jet+2003&hl=en&sa=X&ei=z5WjUb-9LYfg8wS6xoG4DQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=Aretha Franklin Returns With Soulful CD, 'So Damn Happy'|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=September 29, 2003|ref={{harvid|Jet|2003}}}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=rNPfKQbqO84C&pg=PA28&dq=aretha+franklin+ebony+1994&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y5OjUZuxB4i29gSrloGgBQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=aretha%20franklin%20ebony%201994&f=false|title=Aretha Talks About Men, Marriage, Music & Motherhood|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=April 1995|ref={{harvid|Ebony|1995}}}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=RAVl_KwcBuAC&pg=PA85&dq=aretha+franklin+swinging%27+aretha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UraVUe6ZGo3I9QSmvoHQAw&ved=0CE8Q6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=aretha%20franklin%20swinging%27%20aretha&f=false|title=Swingin' Aretha|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|ref={{harvid|Ebony|1964}}}}
* {{cite journal|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JN4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=aretha+franklin+loses+weight+1974&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cp-iUfOBIY--9QSZgoHACw&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=aretha%20franklin%20loses%20weight%201974&f=false|title=The New Aretha|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|ref={{harvid|Ebony|1974}}}}
* {{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=RSGhEUq5bp0C&pg=PA312&dq=aretha+franklin+powerful+voice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ebeVUYnxKZPI9QTChYD4Cg&ved=0CFUQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=aretha%20franklin%20powerful%20voice&f=false|title=Icons of Black America: Breaking Barriers and Crossing Boundaries [Three Volumes] (Google eBook)|last=Whitaker|first=Matthew C.|date=March 1, 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-31337-643-6|ref=harv}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
{{Wikipedia books|Aretha Franklin}}
{{Portal|Biography|African American}}
* [http://www.legacyrecordings.com/artists/aretha-franklin Aretha Franklin] at [[Legacy Recordings]]
*{{C-SPAN|arethafranklin}}
*{{IMDb name|0291349|Aretha Franklin}}
*[http://www.npr.org/artists/15662553/aretha-franklin Aretha Franklin] at [[NPR Music]]
*{{NYTtopic|people/f/aretha_franklin}}
*{{Worldcat id|lccn-n84-28907}}
*{{answers.com|aretha-franklin}}
*{{Discogs artist}}

{{Aretha Franklin}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 1990s}}
{{Michigan Women's Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control|VIAF=71577926|LCCN=n/84/28907|GND=118967622|SELIBR=313776}}

{{Persondata
|NAME = Franklin, Aretha Louise
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = American singer
|DATE OF BIRTH = March 25, 1942
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Tennessee, U.S.
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin, Aretha}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American female singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:African-American female singers]]
[[Category:African-American pianists]]
[[Category:American child singers]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Baptists from the United States]]
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[[Category:Checker Records artists]]
[[Category:Child pop musicians]]
[[Category:Christian feminists]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:Feminist musicians]]
[[Category:Gospel artists from Detroit, Michigan]]
[[Category:Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees]]
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[[Category:Grammy Legend Award]]
[[Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Michigan Democrats]]
[[Category:MusiCares Person of the Year]]
[[Category:Musicians from Detroit, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:Rhythm and blues pianists]]
[[Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:Tennessee Democrats]]
[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]]

Revision as of 23:14, 11 September 2013

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