Aretha Franklin dead at age 76

Aretha Franklin has died at the age of 76, her family announced Thursday, August 16.

Franklin, known universally as the “Queen of Soul,” died at her home in Detroit following a lengthy battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Born in Memphis in 1943, Franklin skyrocketed to fame in the 1960s, achieving commercial acclaim and success with songs like “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Think” and more.

Franklin, having recorded 112 charted singles on Billboard, is the most charted female artist in the chart’s history. She won 18 Grammy Awards and, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide, is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.

The “Queen of Soul” made her way to Brooklyn in August, 2011, when she performed at the 33rd Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series in Coney Island. There, she sang numbers from her most recent album at the time, “A Woman Falling Out of Love,” as well as some of her greatest hits.

Franklin is being remembered today by fellow musical legends like Carole King and Paul McCartney, among others.

“What a life. What a legacy!,” wrote King on Twitter. “So much love, respect and gratitude. R.I.P.” King, along with then-husband Gerry Goffin, wrote “Natural Woman.”

“Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years,” McCartney urged his Twitter followers. “She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever.”