“Greatest of all time”: World reacts to Aretha Franklin’s death
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has died from advance pancreatic cancer at home in Detroit, aged 76.
The music icon was surrounded by family and friends when she died at 9.50am on Thursday local time.
“It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Aretha Louise Franklin, the Queen of Soul,” her family said in a statement issued by her publicist.
“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart.
“We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.”
Her family thanked friends and supporters from all over the world for their prayers.
“We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received,” the statement read.
“We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
The death of the legendary singer, known for such enduring hits as Respect (1967), Natural Woman (1968) and I Say a Little Prayer (1968), sparked an outpouring of love and tributes for the remarkable woman from around the world.
Diana Ross said she was “sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit Aretha Franklin.”
Smokey Robinson said in a statement: “This morning my longest friend in this world went home to be with our father. I will miss her so much but I know she’s at peace.”
Barbra Streisand shared a photo of herself performing with Franklin in 2012, writing: “It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world.”
John Legend tweeted: “Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I’ve ever known.”
Barack and Michelle Obama said in a statement: “Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade-our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.
“She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.”
I was fortunate enough to spend time with her and witness her last performance – a benefit for @ejaf at St John The Divine Cathedral. She was obviously unwell, and I wasn’t sure she could perform. But Aretha did and she raised the roof.
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 16, 2018
US President Donald Trump opened a Cabinet meeting at the White House today by expressing his “condolences to the family of a person I knew well”. He said Franklin “worked for me on numerous occasions,” and her “legacy will thrive and inspire” many generations.
“She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing,” said the President, who also tweeted about the singer. “She’s brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God — her voice, and she used to well. People loved Aretha. She was a special woman. So just want to pass on my warmest best wishes and sympathies to her family.”
Clive Davis, the music mogul who helped revive Franklin’s career in the 1980s, said he was “devastated” by her death.
“She was truly one of a kind,” he said in a statement. “She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world.
“Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness.”
Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label, said in a statement: “A national treasure to everyone. But to me personally, Aretha Franklin was my dear, dear friend, my homegirl, and I loved her a lot.
“From seeing her as a baby singing and playing at the piano at her father’s home, to her giving a rousing performance at the White House, she has always been amazing. No matter how the music has changed over the years, she remained so relevant.”
In her decades-long career that spanned multiple genres, Franklin’s powerful voice that stretched over four octaves defined her place in American music history.
What a life. What a legacy!
So much love, respect and gratitude.
R.I.P. @ArethaFranklin https://t.co/400K1U5IHI— Carole King (@Carole_King) August 16, 2018
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 greatest singers of all time. You will be missed by all. https://t.co/L8dIIhyR9Y
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) August 16, 2018
Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine named her the greatest singer of all time, male or female.
The Hall of Fame issued a statement titled “Lady Soul”, which read: “The first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Aretha Franklin was an artist of passion, sophistication and command, whose recordings remain anthems that defined soul music. Long live the Queen.”