Aretha Franklin retires: From Respect to the Queen of Soul – her life in pictures

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has announced that she will retire later this year after releasing one final album, which will be produced by Stevie Wonder.

The 74-year old has enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades, which has seen her sell more than 75 million records, win 18 Grammy awards and sing at two presidential inaugurations.

Aretha has said that she is “pretty much satisfied with her career”, but teased: “I’m not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn’t be good either.”

To mark her career, here is a look back at Aretha Franklin’s life in pictures.

Early years

Aretha was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942.

Her father was a Baptist preacher and her mother was a gospel singer, who tragically died when Aretha was 10 years old.

As a young girl Aretha’s musical talents became evident. As well as possessing a powerful voice, she is also a gifted pianist.

She began singing in her father’s church, and aged 14 released her first gospel album Songs of Faith.

She soon began touring with her father’s revival show, during which she met gospel legends such as Mahalia Jackson and Sam Cooke and gave birth to her first son Clarence at the tender age of 14.

A second son followed two years later. Neither boys’ father has ever been identified.

1960s – Respect and early success

After a brief break from singing, Aretha returned to performing and released a series of jazz standards in the early 1960s.

In 1961 she married Ted White, who she divorced in 1969 amid allegations of domestic violence. The marriage resulted in a child, Teddy White Jr, born in 1964.

By the end of the year, Aretha was in a relationship with her tour manager Ken Cunningham. The couple had one son, Kecalf, before splitting in 1976.

Aretha made her chart break-through with Respect in 1967, which is still considered to be one of her signature tracks and has been hailed as a feminist anthem.

The song was originally sung by Otis Redding, but Aretha’s version added the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T“ chorus and the “sock it to me” refrain.

It hit number one in the US charts and spawned the album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. 

Later that year Aretha also released Chain of Fools, I Say A Little Prayer For You, and Natural Woman, all of which remain popular to this day.

Her success earned her the nickname ‘the Queen of Soul’, and she became a civil rights icon. 

In 1968, she was asked to perform at the funeral of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and also sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention.

1970s – Young, Gifted and Black

In 1972 Aretha released Young, Gifted and Black, which in 2003 was named the 76th greatest album of all time by VH1.

She also recorded Amazing Grace, a live gospel album which to this day remains the highest selling record of her career and the biggest selling gospel record of all time.

However her 1973 album Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky) was poorly received, and her career floundered as the charts turned towards disco.

Her personal life was a mixed bag. In 1974 she dropped 40 pounds on a crash diet, and would continue to yo-yo over the years,

In 1978 she married actor Glynn Turman, but one year tragedy struck as her father was shot and fell into a coma.

1980s – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1985 Aretha decided to return to a “younger sound”, after several albums of mature R&B/soul.

She told Rolling Stone: “I’d been listening to the radio and I really liked what I heard. I figured to myself that it was time for me to do something serious.”

Who’s Zoomin’ Who, her 33rd studio album, marked a return to form and became her first platinum selling record.

She became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

1990s – Lifetime achievement

In 1991 the Grammys awarded her a legend award, which was upgraded in 1994 to a lifetime achievement award.

Two years later she was asked to sing at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration.

In 1998 Aretha has a surprise chart hit 40 years into her career, with the Lauryn Hill-penned A Rose Is Still A Rose.

2000s – Continued success and retirement

In 2005 Aretha was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2009 she sung at Barack Obama’s inauguration.

She became engaged in 2012 to her long-time friend Willie Wilkerson, and joked: “No, I’m not pregnant.” But just a few months later the nuptuals were called off.

In recent years Aretha has continued to perform and release albums, despite suffering from a number of health problems.

She is now set to retire at the end of the year.