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Obituary

Aretha Franklin: Life in Photos

By Billboard Staff
8/16/2018
  • Copied to clipboard
Walter Iooss Jr./Getty Images
1 / 42
Item 1 of 42

1968

Aretha Franklin performs during a concert at Madison Square Garden on June 28, 1968 in New York City.
By Billboard Staff
8/16/2018
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Artist Mentioned

Aretha Franklin

Everett Collection
2 / 42
Item 2 of 42

1960s

Aretha Franklin and Martin Luther King Jr. photographed in the 1960s.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 3 of 42

1968

Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1968.
CBS via Getty Images
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Item 4 of 42

1968

Aretha Franklin on "The Jonathan Winters Show" on Jan. 5, 1968.
GAB Archive/Redferns
5 / 42
Item 5 of 42

1960s

Jerry Wexler and Aretha Franklin in a recording studio circa 1960s.
Express Newspapers/Getty Images
6 / 42
Item 6 of 42

1968

Aretha Franklin dancing for the cameras in 1968.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 7 of 42

1969

Aretha Franklin performs onstage in circa 1969.
Walter Iooss/Getty Images
8 / 42
Item 8 of 42

1969

Aretha Franklin fixes her makeup backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in 1969 in Newark, New Jersey.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 9 of 42

1970

Aretha Franklin in the Atlantic Records Studios with producers Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler circa 1970 in New York City.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
10 / 42
Item 10 of 42

1969

Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait with three plaques of records celebrating milestones in sales in circa 1969.
Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
11 / 42
Item 11 of 42

1969

Aretha Franklin on "The Andy Williams Show" on May 4, 1969.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 12 of 42

1969

Aretha Franklin sings in the Atlantic Records studio during 'The Weight' recording session on Jan. 9, 1969 in New York City.
Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
13 / 42
Item 13 of 42

1970

Aretha Franklin photographed on July 28, 1970.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
14 / 42
Item 14 of 42

1970

Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1970.
Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
15 / 42
Item 15 of 42

1971

Aretha Franklin, her father, Baptist preacher CL (born Clarence LaVaughn) (1915 - 1984), and her sister, fellow singer Carolyn (1944 - 1988) photographed in New York in 1971.
Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
16 / 42
Item 16 of 42

1973

Aretha Franklin photographed in 1973.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 17 of 42

1975

Aretha Franklin receives a Grammy for "best female rhythm & blues performance" for the 5th consecutive year, this year for her rendition of the song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on March 15, 1975 in New York City.
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
18 / 42
Item 18 of 42

1978

Aretha Franklin and Glynn Russell during their wedding on April 11, 1978.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
19 / 42
Item 19 of 42

1978

Aretha Franklin attends an event with husband actor Glynn Turman and son Kelf circa 1978 in Los Angeles.
Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
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Item 20 of 42

1980

John Belushi, Aretha Franklin and Dan Aykroyd photographed during The Blues Brothers in 1980.
Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images
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Item 21 of 42

1985

Aretha Franklin rehearses in a recording studio with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics photographed in 1985.
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
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Item 22 of 42

1986

Aretha Franklin and Whoopi Goldberg photographed in 1986.
Robert Kozloff/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Item 23 of 42

1988

Aretha Franklin and George Michael during his Faith World Tour in Auburn Hills, Mich. in 1988.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images
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Item 24 of 42

1989

Aretha Franklin and Clive Davis at a party in July 1989 in New York City.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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Item 25 of 42

1989

Narrada Michael Walden, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston pose for a portrait during the recording of the song 'It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Gonna Be Me in May 1989 in Detroit, Michigan.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images
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Item 26 of 42

1993

Aretha Franklin hugs Smokey Robinson at a rehearsal for the "Aretha Franklin: Duets" concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis at the Nederlander Theater in April 1993 in New York City.
Catherine McGann/Getty Images
27 / 42
Item 27 of 42

1993

Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin and Elton John at a rehearsal for the "Aretha Franklin: Duets" concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis at the Nederlander Theater in April 1993 in New York City.
Cynthia Johnson/Liaison
28 / 42
Item 28 of 42

1993

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross stand with a crowd in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 17, 1993 in Washington, DC. Numerous musicians and performers gathered in front of the Memorial to celebrate the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
29 / 42
Item 29 of 42

1998

Aretha Franklin photographed on Jan. 21, 1998.
Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
30 / 42
Item 30 of 42

1998

Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin perform onstage during the 'Divas Live--An Honors Concert for VH1 Save the Music' at the Beacon Theater, New York on April 14, 1998.
AP Photo/Khue Bui
31 / 42
Item 31 of 42

1998

Aretha Franklin dances on stage during the first annual march on cancer on Sept. 26, 1998 in Washington.
KMazur/WireImage for NFL
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Item 32 of 42

2003

Aretha Franklin during NFL Kickoff Live 2003 Presented By Pepsi Vanilla - Show at The National Mall in Washington, DC.
Matt Rourke/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Item 33 of 42

2010

Aretha Franklin photographed in Philadelphia in 2010.
Larry Busacca/Getty Image
34 / 42
Item 34 of 42

2011

Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett perform onstage during Tony Bennett's 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at The Metropolitan Opera House on Sept. 18, 2011 in New York City.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
35 / 42
Item 35 of 42

2011

Barack Obama kisses soul diva Aretha Franklin as Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Jill Biden and Ken Salazar applaud after Franklin performed at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Oct. 16, 2011 in Washington, DC.
Evan Richman/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
36 / 42
Item 36 of 42

2012

Aretha Franklin at the New England Conservatory commencement at Jordan Hall in 2012. The Legendary singer was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
J. Countess/Getty Images
37 / 42
Item 37 of 42

2014

Clive Davis, Aretha Franklin and Kecalf Cunningham attend Aretha Franklin's 72nd Birthday Celebration at the Ritz Carlton on March 22, 2014 in New York City.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images
38 / 42
Item 38 of 42

2014

Aretha Franklin receives an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree at the Harvard University 363rd Commencement Exercises Ceremony on May 29, 2014 in Cambridge, Mass.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
39 / 42
Item 39 of 42

2015

President Barack Obama fist bumps with singer Aretha Franklin who sung during a farwell ceremony for Attorney General Eric Holder at the Justice Department on Feb. 27, 2015 in Washington, DC.
 Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
40 / 42
Item 40 of 42

2015

Pope Francis looks on as Aretha Franklin performs during the Festival of Families on Sept. 26, 2015 in Philadelphia
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
41 / 42
Item 41 of 42

2017

Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Barry Manilow pose for a portrait backstage at the "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives" Premiere during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Radio City Music Hall on April 19, 2017 in New York City.
42 / 42
Item 42 of 42

By Billboard Staff
8/16/2018
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