Aretha Franklin dead: See her life in photos

Aretha Franklin, 1942-2018

Aretha Frankin, who died Aug. 16, 2018, at the age of 76, was just 18 years old in 1960 (pictured) when she set out to become a professional singer. What followed was an unparalleled and legendary career that saw her crowned the Queen of Soul. Ahead, see photos from her time as one of the greatest voices ever.

1965

Born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tenn., Franklin was the middle daughter of Barbara Siggers, a gospel singer who died when Aretha was only 9, and C.L. Franklin, a traveling preacher who settled down to become the socially progressive minister of Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church.

Circa 1965

Queen Of Soul Portrait — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Though Franklin started out singing gospel music as a child, she began recording more pop music in 1964 and had a top 10 song on the R&B chart with "Runnin' Out of Fools" in 1965.

November 1966

Aretha Signs — PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

On Nov. 21, 1966, Franklin (pictured with record producer Jerry Wexler and then-husband and manager Ted White) signed with Atlantic Records.

Mid-1960s

Aretha must have known she was on her way to becoming the Queen of Soul.

1968

Franklin married her first husband, Ted White, in 1961 at age 19. They had one son, Ted White Jr., and divorced in 1969, following reports of domestic abuse.

June 1968

Martin Luther King Jr. Benefit Concert — Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Franklin performed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 28, 1968. Other musical acts included the Rascals, Sam & Dave, Joe Tex, Sonny & Cher, and King Curtis & The Kingpins.

May 1969

On May 4, 1969, Franklin was a guest on The Andy Williams Show.

1970

Aretha Franklin With Her Grammy Award — Tim Boxer/Getty Images

Franklin posed backstage after winning a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance of "Share Your Love With Me."

1971

Portrait Of Aretha Franklin & Family — Anthony Barboza/Getty Images

Aretha looked serious while posing with her father, Baptist preacher C.L. Franklin, and younger sister Carolyn.

Circa 1973

Aretha Franklin Reclining Portrait — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

During the first half of the '70s, Franklin took home six Grammy Awards, just a fraction of her 18 career wins, and 44 total nominations.

April 11, 1978

Franklin Turman Wedding — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The cameras caught Franklin sharing a kiss at her wedding to actor Glynn Turman, as her youngest son Kecalf Cunningham looked on. The lovebirds married at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.

Circa 1979 with then-husband Glynn Turman and her son Kecalf

Franklin & Family Attend Event — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

After Franklin left California and returned to Detroit to take care of her father, she and Turman separated and eventually divorced in 1984.

1980

Aretha Franklin Portrait Session — Harry Langdon/Getty Images

In 1980, Franklin parted ways with Atlantic Records and signed with Clive Davis' Arista Records.

1980

She also made a memorable appearance as a waitress in the The Blues Brothers with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.

1980

Aretha, her first Arista album and 29th studio ablum, featured the R&B hit "Unitied Together" as well as a Grammy-nominated cover of Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose."

April 1985

Aretha Franklin At The Hyatt Hotel — Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Franklin entertained the crowd at the NBA All-Star Game celebration in Chicago on April 18, 1985.

January 1987

Aretha Franklin, Detroit, USA — Joe Kennedy/AP/REX/Shutterstock

The Queen of Soul teamed up with the King of Soul (a.k.a. James Brown) for an HBO special taped in Detroit on Jan. 11, 1987. That same year, she was the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

May 1989

'It Ain't Gonna Be Me' Recording Session — Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Producer-arranger Narada Michael Walden, Franklin, and Whitney Houston recorded "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Gonna Be Me" in 1989 in Detroit.

September 14, 1991

Aretha Franklin And Oprah Winfrey — Waring Abbott/Getty Images

Franklin shared a laugh backstage with Oprah Winfrey at Radio City Music Hall in 1991.

February 24, 1992

Aretha Franklin At A Grammy Party With Donald Trump, Clive Davis, and Marla Maples — Waring Abbott/Getty Images

In 1992, Franklin mingled with Donald Trump, Clive Davis, and Marla Maples at an Arista Records Grammy party.

February 26, 1997

GRAMMYS, NEW YORK, USA — KATHY WILLENS/AP/REX/Shutterstock

The singer loved her fur coats, like the one she wore to the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997.

February 25, 1998

Aretha Franklin poses with the Blues Brothers John — TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Franklin shared a moment with the Blues Brothers — John Goodman, J.Evan Bonifant, Joe Morton, and Dan Aykroyd — after performing at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998.

April 14, 1998

Divas At The Beacon Theater — Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images

Franklin sang with fellow diva Mariah Carey on Divas Live: An Honors Concert for VH1 Save the Music at New York City's Beacon Theater.

September 1999

US President Bill Clinton (R) along with First Lad — STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images

President Bill Clinton presented Franklin with the National Medal of Arts in 1999, as first lady Hillary Clinton applauded.

2001

VH1 DIVAS, NEW YORK, USA — SUZANNE PLUNKETT/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Franklin was honored in 2001 at the VH1 Divas 2001: The One and Only Aretha Franklin tribute.

April 22, 2005

Aretha Franklin Concert — Ralph Notaro/Getty Images

The singer donned a voluminous gown for a concert at the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Fla.

June 5, 2005

59th Annual Tony Awards - Show — Stephen Lovekin/WireImage

Franklin performed a duet of "Somewhere" from West Side Story with Hugh Jackman at the 59th Annual Tony Awards in 2005.

2005

In 2005, Franklin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. She also became the second woman inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame.

January 20, 2009

Aretha Franklin performs My Country 'Tis of Thee during the — Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Franklin delivered a rousing rendition of "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee")" during Barack Obama's inauguration as 44th president of the United States in 2009.

July 25, 2012

Aretha Franklin Performs At The Nokia Theatre L.A. Live — Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Though she had a major fear of flying, Franklin still got around, traveling to destinations as far away as Los Angeles (where she's seen performing here) on her custom bus.

April 12, 2013

Aretha Franklin In Concert - Toronto, ON — Jag Gundu/Getty Images

Franklin brougth her amazing voice to Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in 2013.

March 22, 2014

Aretha Franklin's 72nd Birthday Celebration — Cindy Ord/FilmMagic

She celebrated her 72nd birthday with Clive Davis (and a piece of cake) in New York City.

May 21, 2014

Yellen NYU Graduation, New York, USA — Frank Franklin II/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Franklin received a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from New York University in 2014.

May 29, 2015

Franklin posed for a family photo with son Kecalf and grandaughter Victorie while attending Chicago on Broadway.

December 9, 2015

Late Night with Seth Meyers - Season 3 — Jon Pack/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Franklin belted out "I Will Survive (The Aretha Version)" on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

December 15, 2015

Franklin posed backstage with Jennifer Hudson after a Broadway performance of The Color Purple. Hudson is set to play the Queen of Soul in an upcoming biopic.

December 17, 2015

Jazz at Lincoln Center Opens The Mica And Ahmet Ertegun Atrium — Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Jazz at Lincoln Center

During the same trip to New York, Franklin attended the opening of the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

April 19, 2017

"Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives" Premiere - 2017 Tribeca Film Festival — Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Franklin took the stage at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival Opening Gala premiere of Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of our Lives at Radio City Music Hall.

November 7, 2017

Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates Its 25th Year And Honors Founder Sir Elton John During New York Fall Gala - Show — Nicholas Hunt/WireImage

She also performed at an event celebrating Elton John and the 25th anniversary of his AIDS Foundation at New York City's Cathedral of St. John the Divine.