Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin, universally known as the "Queen of Soul" was a monumental American singer, songwriter, and pianist whose career spanned six decades. Raised singing gospel music in her father’s Detroit church, she possessed a powerful, four-octave vocal range that effortlessly blended sacred gospel roots with R&B, jazz, and pop. During the 1960s, she emerged as a defining voice of the civil rights and women's empowerment movements.

Her iconic hits like "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" became global anthems of social change and personal dignity. Franklin shattered barriers as the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and amassed 18 Grammy Awards throughout her historic lifetime.