Aretha Franklin passed away, and fans everywhere are honoring and celebrating her impact and influence on the music industry and the world.
Aretha Franklin passed away on Thursday, Aug. 16 from pancreatic cancer. Franklin, who has been dubbed and known as the “Queen of Soul,” is known for many classics such as “I Say a Little Prayer” as well as the timeless, powerful “Respect.” Franklin passed away at her home in Detroit; she was 76 years old.
We want to honor such an impactful and powerful woman who changed music and was regarded highly by her peers. She was also influential in political and civil rights circles and was a friend of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and she also performed at the presidential inaugurations of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter. Franklin also won 18 Grammy Awards and was the first woman to be included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Aretha Franklin was an icon, and her passing is being mourned by fans all over the world. People everywhere are celebrating her life and her contributions to music and beyond. Many notable musicians and politicians have posted on Twitter about Franklin and how much she influenced them, including Diana Ross, another iconic black woman in the music industry. The list of musicians who have posted on social media to honor Franklin is long and also includes Elton John, Mariah Carey, and John Legend.
I’m sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit Aretha Franklin.
— Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) August 16, 2018
What beautiful music and vocal artistry you gave to the world. You are a legend and your soul will never be forgotten. Rest in peace angel of music. #ArethaFranklin pic.twitter.com/ab8fmIhp4o
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 16, 2018
There was a GENIUS that walked this Earth . She was a BLACK WOMAN . She gave us the BLUE PRINT . She RAISED THE BAR . She LAID THE FOUNDATION and her name was QUEEN ARETHA FRANKLIN . We could not forget you if we tried . I am infinitely THANKFUL . #GENIUS #4everbowingtoyouQUEEN pic.twitter.com/z7QjHLW5wI
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 17, 2018
Barack Obama also posted on about her on Twitter saying, “May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace.”
Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018
Aretha’s name is associated with empowerment and representation. She told the Associated Press in 2008 that “Music is my thing, it’s who I am. I’m in it for the long run. I’ll be around, singing, ‘What you want, baby I got it.’ Having fun all the way.”
Aretha Franklin’s passing is a definite loss for those who were close to her and all those who were impacted by her vast influence. We would love to hear stories about how she inspired you and what her music and life meant to you.