Aretha Franklin, whose peerless singing and regal bearing earned her the name the Queen of Soul, died today (Thursday) at age 76.
The second most prolific female winner in the history of the Grammy Awards underwent surgery in 2010, reportedly for pancreatic cancer, but then returned to action and made a number of public appearances in which the often obese diva seemed slimmed down and healthy.
But by May 2013, unidentified health issues caused Franklin's doctors to have her cancel tour dates.
In June 2017, Detroit renamed a portion of Madison Street Aretha Franklin Way. Jennifer Hudson will reportedly play her in an upcoming bio-pic.
Married and divorced twice, Franklin is survived by four sons.