Aretha Franklin

Here's a timeline of Aretha Franklin's life:

1940s - 1950s: Early Life

• 1942 - Born on March 25 in Memphis, Tennessee.
• 1944 - Family moved to Detroit, Michigan.
• 1952 - Mother passed away when Aretha was 10.
• 1956 - Recorded her first gospel album, Songs of Faith, at age 14.

1960s: Rise to Fame

• 1960 - Signed with Columbia Records, began recording pop and jazz standards.
• 1966 - Signed with Atlantic Records; career breakthrough begins.
• 1967 - Released hit singles: "Respect," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You," and "Think".
• 1968 - Performed at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral. Became a symbol of the civil rights movement.

1970s: Continued Success

• 1971 - First woman to headline at the Fillmore West (live album: Aretha Live at Fillmore West).
• 1972 - Released the best-selling gospel album Amazing Grace.
• 1979 - Her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, was shot during a home invasion and fell into a coma.

1980s: New Label & Recognition

• 1980 - Signed with Arista Records; appeared in The Blues Brothers movie.
• 1985 - Released hit album Who's Zoomin' Who? with hits like "Freeway of Love."
• 1987 - First woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1990s - 2000s: Legacy Cemented

• 1994 - Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• 1998 - Replaced Luciano Pavarotti at the last minute to perform “Nessun Dorma” at the Grammy Awards — received global acclaim.
• 2005 - Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.

2010s: Final Years

• 2010 - Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• 2015 - Performed "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at Kennedy Center Honors — brought President Obama to tears.
• 2017 - Retired from performing.
• 2018 - Died on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan, at age 76.