Aretha Franklin, nicknamed “The Queen of Soul” has died at 76 but her legacy lives on. Franklin was best known for hits like “Respect”, “Think” and “I Say a Little Prayer”. She passed away in Detroit on Thursday, August 16, 2018 after battling ill health for several years. She’d been battling cancer since 2010 and the cause of her death on Thursday is listed advanced pancreatic cancer.
In 1960, at the age of 18, she started recording for Columbia Records before switching to Atlantic Records where her career took off. She had a string of hits in the 1960s and 70s.
Over her long career, she recorded over 100 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. SHe’s currently the most “charted female artist” in the Billboard’s history. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Here are some of the ways she influenced pop culture.
Star Trek: Beyond Dubsmash (“Freedom”)
John Cho, who plays Sulu on the Star Trek movies did a Dubsmash battle song with Chris Pine.
It’s all about… pic.twitter.com/OM66bqZEnK
— John Cho (@JohnTheCho) July 8, 2016
The two sing Aretha Franklin’s hit song “Freedom”.
The Lone Gunmen (“You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”)
The short-lived X-Files spin-off “The Lone Gunmen” featured her song “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” in the episode “Three Men and a Smoking Diaper” (2001).
Bicentennial Man (“Respect”, “Sweet Sweet Baby”)
The Robin Williams science-fiction film about an immortal sentient android featured two of her songs “Respect” and “Sweet Sweet Baby”.
“Justice” 1988 Comic
In the ambitious comic book spin-off by Marvel was known as the “New Universe”. She makes an appearance in the 1988 “Justice” comic book about a DEA agent who acquires superpowers and fights crime. In “Justice” #20 “Creeping Paranoia” by Peter David and Lee Weeks she makes a small appearance.
Singing with Hugh Jackman
At the 2005 59th Tony Awards she and Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine in the Fox movies, sang “Somewhere”. He tweeted about it saying “One of the highlights of my career was singing with #ArethaFranklin at The Tony Awards. It was an out of body experience for me. One of the greatest singers of all time. You will be missed by all.”
Stars have come out to pay her respects
Ava DuVernay
“Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel so uninspired
And when I knew
I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you
Life was so unkind
But you’re the key to
My peace of mind.”
Her voice/swagger was peerless.
Thank you, #ArethaFranklin pic.twitter.com/5gp0OP10Jf
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) August 16, 2018
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