Soul legend Aretha Franklin has died at the age of 76.
Franklin, who was called "The Queen of Soul" since the 1960s, was battling advanced pancreatic cancer, AP reports. She passed away today, Thursday, August 16th, at her home in Detroit, Michigan.
Her family shares this statement with today's news.
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins knew no bounds.
We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Fellow Detroit musician Carl Craig shared a small tribute about 30 minutes before news broke internationally.
Earlier this week, Franklin was reported to be "gravely ill" and surrounded by family and close friends. Her last performance was at Elton John's annual AIDS foundation gala November 2017.
Franklin was born in Memphis and began her singing career in the gospel choir of a Detroit church where her father, C. L. Franklin, was a minister. Her greatest hits—such as "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"—came after she signed to Atlantic records in 1967. In the 1980s, she worked with Luther Vandross on her albums Jump To It and Get It Right. Franklin was also hailed for her dedication to civil rights, in and out of the studio.
Listen to some of her classic tracks, plus others that feature samples of her work.