Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. She was launched to fame when she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966, and delivered all-time classic songs like, “Respect”, “Chain of Fools”, “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”, and many others.  By the end of the decade, she was known forever as the “Queen of Soul”. In time, she would go on to become one of the world’s best-selling singers, selling more than 75 million records. Always an advocate for civil rights, Aretha Franklin championed the causes of those of underserved people everywhere. Aretha would earn many accolades throughout her lifetime. 

Parents: Barbara Franklin and Clarence LaVaughn (C.L.) Franklin, a Baptist minister. He was known as the man with the “million dollar voice”, due to his popular, fiery sermons. 

Spouse: Ted White (1961-1969), Glynn Turman (1978-1984)

Children: Clarence Franklin (1955), Edward Franklin (1957), Teddy Richards (1964), Kecalf  Cunningham (1970)

Height: 5’5″ 9 (1.68m)

Net Worth: $80 million

Zodiac: Aries

Charities: 46664, NAACP, Feeding America, MusiCares, GRAMMY Foundation, Special Olympics, The Rainforest Foundation, United Negro College Fund, USO, Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes

Trivia: 

• $1 million in uncashed checks were found in her home after she died. 
• Received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979.
• In 1985, the state of Michigan declared her voice a “natural resource”.
• Was awarded 7 honorary doctoral degrees in music: University of Michigan (1987),  New England Conservatory of Music (1997), Berklee College of Music (2006), University of Pennsylvania (2007), Brown Universtiy (2009), Yale University (2010), Princeton University (2012).  
• Awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Bethune-Cookman University (1975), and honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Wayne State University (1990) and Case Western Reserve University (2011).  
• Rolling Stone magazine ranked her as Number One on its list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”. 
• In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 
• U.S. President George Bush awarded her Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. 
• First individual woman to receive an individual Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2019.
• Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.
• If she had not become a singer, Aretha wanted to be a prima ballerina or executive secretary.

Quotes: 

• “I’m the lady next door when I’m not on stage.”
• “Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away!”
• “I think the hardest thing is losing weight. That’s the hardest thing more than anything else.”
• “It’s called high tea because the bill is going to be so high when you get it!”
• “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.”
• “Some of the rap (music) is good, some of it is not good, some of it is wretched.”
• “Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.”
• “I’ve met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!”
• “Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s alot easier putting it on than taking it off.”
• “You can’t please everybody, and as long as I’m comfortable with what I wear, I think that’s what’s important.”
• “It’s most satisfying to know and most gratifying to know you are doing good to excellent work.”
• “I love marriage. I’m not gullible. I’m not going to be stupid anymore.”