Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Aretha Franklin Photos Illustrate Her Vibrant Life

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin died on Thursday at the age of 76. The artist, often known as the Queen of Soul, was a musical icon and powerhouse, remembered for timeless hits including “Respect,” “Think,” (You Make Me Feel Like) “A Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools,” turning her into one of the biggest music stars of the 1960s and ensuing decades. Franklin released her most recent album, A Brand New Me, in November 2017.

Born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1942, Franklin was widely considered one of the vocal greats of the last half-century, getting her start singing in church before finding her place in the studio and in stardom’s spotlight. During her decades-long career as an artist, Franklin released more than 40 albums, plus a number of live and compilation albums. She performed at such events as the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama and the 2005 Super Bowl XL, and received accolades including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and 18 Grammy Awards and 44 nominations. Franklin also made history as the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

“I didn’t think my songs would become anthems for women. But I’m delighted,” Franklin told TIME for the Firsts Project. “Women probably immediately feel compassion and relate to the lyrics. We can all learn a little something from each other, so whatever people can take and be inspired by where my music is concerned is great.”

Aretha Franklin performs during a taping of "The Jonathan Winters Show," Jan. 5, 1968 in Los Angeles. (CBS/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin performs during a taping of "The Jonathan Winters Show," Jan. 5, 1968 in Los Angeles.
CBS/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performing in 1968. (Everett Collection)
Aretha Franklin performing in 1968.
Everett Collection
Aretha Franklin performs in 1969. (ABC/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin performs in 1969.
ABC/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin in Central Park, New York City, 1968. (Heilemann/Camera Press/Redux)
Aretha Franklin in Central Park, New York City, 1968.
Heilemann/Camera Press/Redux
Aretha Franklin and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the late 1960s. (Everett Collection)
Aretha Franklin and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the late 1960s.
Everett Collection
Aretha Franklin, center, her father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, and her sister, fellow singer Carolyn in New York, 1971. (Anthony Barboza—Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin, center, her father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, and her sister, fellow singer Carolyn in New York, 1971.
Anthony Barboza—Getty Images
Aretha Franklin fixes her makeup backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in 1969, Newark. (Walter Iooss—Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin fixes her makeup backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in 1969, Newark.
Walter Iooss—Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performs in 1971. (Chris Walter—WireImage/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin performs in 1971.
Chris Walter—WireImage/Getty Images
People wait on line to buy tickets to see Aretha Franklin at the Apollo Theatre in New York. (NY Daily News/Getty Images)
People wait on line to buy tickets to see Aretha Franklin at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
NY Daily News/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin wins best female R&B vocal performance at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972 for her performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water. (ABC/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin wins best female R&B vocal performance at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972 for her performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water.
ABC/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performs with James Brown during a Home Box Office taping at the Taboo night club in Detroit. (Joe Kennedy—AP/Shutterstock)
Aretha Franklin performs with James Brown during a Home Box Office taping at the Taboo night club in Detroit.
Joe Kennedy—AP/Shutterstock
Muhammad Ali, left, and Aretha Franklin on The Muhammad Ali Variety Show in 1975. (ABC/Getty Images)
Muhammad Ali, left, and Aretha Franklin on The Muhammad Ali Variety Show in 1975.
ABC/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin, center, lip-synchs her song Think for the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, starring Dan Aykroyd, far left, John Belushi, second left, and Matt Murphy, back right. (Universal/Everett Collection)
Aretha Franklin, center, lip-synchs her song Think for the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, starring Dan Aykroyd, far left, John Belushi, second left, and Matt Murphy, back right.
Universal/Everett Collection
Aretha Franklin rehearses l for the "Aretha Franklin: Duets" concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis at the Nederlander Theater in April 1993 in New York. (Catherine McGann—Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin rehearses l for the "Aretha Franklin: Duets" concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis at the Nederlander Theater in April 1993 in New York.
Catherine McGann—Getty Images
Aretha Franklin performs at the inaugural gala for President Bill Cinton on Jan. 19, 1993. (Peter Turnley—Corbis/VCG/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin performs at the inaugural gala for President Bill Cinton on Jan. 19, 1993.
Peter Turnley—Corbis/VCG/Getty Images
President George W. Bush presents Aretha Franklin with the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington D.C. on Nov. 9, 2005. (Douglas A. Sonders—Getty Images)
President George W. Bush presents Aretha Franklin with the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington D.C. on Nov. 9, 2005.
Douglas A. Sonders—Getty Images
Aretha Franklin sings at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2009. (Damon Winter—The New York Times/Redux)
Aretha Franklin sings at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2009.
Damon Winter—The New York Times/Redux
Aretha Franklin, right, finishes her performance with President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Harry Johnson, president and CEO of the MLK National Memorial Project Fund as they attend the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall Oct. 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Mike Theiler—Pool/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin, right, finishes her performance with President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Harry Johnson, president and CEO of the MLK National Memorial Project Fund as they attend the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall Oct. 16, 2011 in Washington, DC.
Mike Theiler—Pool/Getty Images
Aretha Franklin receives an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at the Harvard commencement ceremonies, in Cambridge, Mass. in May 2014. (Steven Senne—AP/Shutterstock)
Aretha Franklin receives an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at the Harvard commencement ceremonies, in Cambridge, Mass. in May 2014.
Steven Senne—AP/Shutterstock
Aretha Franklin performs at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Fall Gala at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Nov. 7, 2017 in New York. (Nicholas Hunt—WireImage/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin performs at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Fall Gala at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Nov. 7, 2017 in New York.
Nicholas Hunt—WireImage/Getty Images
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