Aretha Franklin: Reaction to Queen of Soul's death at 76

Summary

Aretha Franklin - known as the "Queen of Soul" - has died in Detroit at the age of 76
The legendary singer was diagnosed with cancer in 2010
Franklin had more than 100 charting singles over a career spanning seven decades
Tributes have been pouring in from the music world and beyond
Her family called her death "one of the darkest moments of our lives"

Live Reporting

Kelly-Leigh Cooper, Flora Drury and Paul Gribben

Mariah Carey: 'You were my inspiration, my mentor and my friend'published at 18:25 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Fellow vocal-powerhouse Mariah Carey shared a series of tweets with memories of Aretha.
She paid tribute to the star's "incomparable voice" but also her "bigger than life personality, wit and humour", adding that she will forever cherish the moments they shared.
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Music stars continue to honour Franklinpublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Some of the biggest names in music are continuing to share tributes to the Queen of Soul on social media.
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You can read about more here.
'Aretha touched the soul of the nation'published at 18:13 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
The scale of the reaction to Aretha Franklin's passing continues to show how many lives she touched, including high-profile politicians.
Barack and Michelle Obama posted tweets and photographs of their memories of Aretha Franklin, after releasing a joint statement earlier.
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A number of other US politicians paid tribute, including Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, who shared a touching memory of her friend.
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US actors share their love of Franklinpublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
A number of high-profile US actors have been taking to social media to share their memories and tributes to the legendary Soul singer.
Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman described her an "icon".
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Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks said she had been reduced to tears at the news and shared a photograph of herself with Franklin.
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Actress Goldie Hawn said she was left deeply saddened by the news.
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Reverend Al Sharpton calls her a 'friend' and 'warrior'published at 17:57 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
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Relive her powerful performance at President Obama's inaugurationpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Media caption,
Aretha Franklin sings at Obama inauguration
Aretha actually performed at inauguration events for three US presidents.
She started with Jimmy Carter in 1977, then sang for Bill Clinton in 1993 before honouring President Obama in 2009.
Read more about how she made history
Hugh Jackman reminiscences about duetpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Australian actor Hugh Jackman shared a video of him performing at the 59th Tony Awards with Franklin in 2005.
The pair sang Somewhere together.
In a tweet,, external he described it as "one of the highlights of his career" and "an out of body experience for me".
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The Obamas: 'Aretha helped define the American experience'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Michelle and Barack Obama paid tribute to Aretha Franklin in a statement released on Thursday.
She performed at his 2009 inauguration ceremony, and famously reduced the president to tears singing (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman in 2015.
Image source, Reuters
"America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father's congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine," the statement says.
"Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, 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.
"She helped us feel more connected with each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us forget about everything else and dance.
"Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and all those moved by her song."
Flowers for the Queen of Soulpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
It is not just musicians and politicians who are flocking to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin.
People all over the world have also been remembering the singer.
US news network ABC shared this video of people leaving flowers on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame:
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Kelly Clarkson: 'What a gift she has left us'published at 17:23 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
The US singer-songwriter tweets:
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Clarkson spoke of her love for Franklin in an interview with Rolling Stone, external in March.
"People like her, you hear them sing and it’s almost as if they don’t need words," she said.
"It’s the sound, the tone, the ache in their voice. Maybe it’s because I went through a few things growing up, but I really fed on that."
Clarkson added: "Aretha is a flawless vocalist, and they didn’t have Auto-Tune then. It was all feeling. And when it was slightly off-key, it was perfect. It was heartfelt."
Tony Bennett: 'She will be missed by the world'published at 17:18 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Legendary crooner Tony Bennett, 92, paid tribute to Franklin on Twitter and shared a touching photograph of the two performing at his 85th birthday gala in New York in 2012.
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Justin Timberlake calls her the 'greatest of all time'published at 17:18 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
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Britney Spears: 'Your music will forever inspire us'published at 17:18 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
The princess of pop tweets:
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Apple boss: 'Her voice will keep lifting us'published at 17:10 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
The Apple CEO Tim Cook tweets:
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Ivanka: Aretha an 'artistic genius and trailblazer'published at 17:09 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Following on from her father, US First Daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump shared a tribute on Twitter:
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Record labels hail 'incalculable' influencepublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Atlantic Records, who Franklin signed with in 1967, said she was a "pillar" of the company and helped transform global culture.
“Aretha’s prodigious talent came from a place of honesty, integrity, and strength, and her boundary-breaking approach extended far beyond her music. She was a tireless champion of civil rights and social justice, and above all, a global citizen who strived her entire life to erase boundaries of race, culture, gender, and nationality," Atlantic Records’ co-chairman Craig Kallman & Julie Greenwald said in a statement.
"All of us in the Atlantic family are deeply proud to be a part of her extraordinary legacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family at this very difficult time.”
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Aretha and her producer Jerry Wexler receiving gold records for I Never Loved A Man in 1967
Warner Music Group’s Max Lousada said in a statement: "Aretha’s influence on music, culture, and history is incalculable"
"We will be forever grateful for everything that she accomplished as an artist, a woman, and a beacon of humanity.”
Nasa: Aretha asteroid will 'keep orbiting'published at 17:07 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Back in 2014, Nasa named an asteroid after Aretha Franklin.
She is one of only a few musicians to have been given this honour.
Today, the US space agency added its tribute to the late singer:
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Bernice King: 'A voice in the civil rights movement'published at 17:02 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Martin Luther King Jr's youngest daughter Bernice has paid tribute to Aretha Franklin, saying she was an "instrument" of the civil rights movement:
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Five ways the Queen of Soul made historypublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Singer Aretha Franklin with Reverend Jesse Jackson in 2011
It wasn't just her spine-tingling voice which made Aretha Franklin an icon.
From her ties to the US civil rights movement to the surprising story behind her best-known hit, Respect, Franklin not only sold Soul - she was there as America shaped its own.
Read about how she made history by clicking here.
Lionel Richie: 'No one did it better'published at 16:55 British Summer Time 16 August 2018
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American singer Lionel Richie paid tribute to Franklin, sharing a photograph of the two together on Instagram.
"Her voice; her presence; her style, No one did it better, Truly the Queen of Soul, I will miss you!"