Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul, dead at 76

Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin died Thursday at the age of 76, the Associated Press reported. 

Known for hits such as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools,” the icon influenced artists for decades, making hits for long after she got a foothold in the music industry in the 1950s. 

The news comes after Franklin’s hospitalization was reported Monday. Her family told local Detroit news station WDIV-TV at the time that the singer was “gravely ill.” She was reportedly visited at home by Stevie Wonder and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

When news of her illness broke, Beyoncé and Jay-Z dedicated their concert in Detroit on Monday to Franklin, declaring their love for her. Read more…

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