Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died Thursday in her home city of Detroit after battling pancreatic cancer. Her death was confirmed by her publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn. She was 76.
Franklin sold more than 75 million records during her life, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Aretha Franklin received numerous awards, including 18 Grammys (plus The Recording Academy’s Grammy Legend Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award), the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, in 1987, an induction as the first woman into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She also sang “My Country Tis of Thee” at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009 (video below)
