Queen of Soul Franklin died on Thursday (Aug. 16) at age 76.
The music industry was in mourning on Thursday (Aug. 16) as it grieved for one of the most iconic vocalists in modern pop history: Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul passed away in her Detroit home at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer and within moments of her death, tributes poured in from across the globe from fans, fellow musicians and former presidents.
Among those sharing their love for the 18-time Grammy winning vocalist who was equally adept at singing jazz, R&B, pop and opera was longtime friend and Sony Music Entertainment Chief Creative officer Clive Davis. "I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing," Davis said in a statement. "She was truly one of a kind. 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."