Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, dies at 76

Aretha Franklin, the iconic Queen of Soul, died on August 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. The 21-time Grammy winner and first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had been in declining health, with recent concert cancellations. Born in Memphis in 1942, she began singing gospel in her father's Baptist church choir. After signing with Columbia Records in the 1950s, her career transformed in 1967 when she moved to Atlantic Records, producing hits like 'Respect,' which became an anthem for feminist and civil rights movements. Other classics include 'Chain of Fools,' 'I Say a Little Prayer,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' 'Think,' and 'Baby I Love You.' Her repertoire spanned gospel, blues, pop, and rock. In the 1980s, she revived her career with a role in 'The Blues Brothers.' Memorable live performances include substituting for Luciano Pavarotti at the 1998 Grammys with 'Nessun dorma' and a 2015 Kennedy Center performance that moved President Barack Obama. Her last concert was in June 2017. A tribute concert, 'Clive Davis Presents: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin,' is scheduled for November 2018 at Madison Square Garden.