In this March 26,1973 file photo, soul singer Aretha Franklin appears at a news conference. AP Music icon Aretha Franklin died on Thursday, August…
In this March 26,1973 file photo, soul singer Aretha Franklin appears at a news conference. AP
Music icon Aretha Franklin died on Thursday, August 16 at age 76. Her decades-long career included dozens of awards and honoree performances that ranged from personal to political and celebratory.
From singing at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in 1968 to performing at President Barack Obama’s first swearing-in ceremony, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin participated in major historical moments.
Here are 17 photos that demonstrate Franklin’s illustrious life and career.
According to the Associated Press, Franklin performed in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16,1968 during memorial services for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Franklin was engaged in politics early on in her career. Here she was with Jackson at an event for PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), an organization founded by the Reverend with the aim of “expanding educational, business and employment opportunities for the disadvantaged and people of color.”
In 1975, she won the award for best rhythm and blues performance (female). Franklin won every Grammy Award in that category for the first eight years after it was introduced in 1968.
Titans of the industry Aretha Franklin and James Brown performed together for an HBO-filmed special, “Soul Session,” which was later released on DVD .
Franklin sung the National Anthem at the 1968 Democratic Nation Convention, and repeated the role for the 1992 event.
Franklin’s performance was part of a concert which included Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross.
Twenty-six years after winning the Grammy for best R&B vocal performance for “Respect,” Franklin was granted the lifetime achievement award.
Franklin was honored alongside songwriter Pete Seeger, director Harold Prince, composer Morton Gould, and actor Kirk Douglas.
Franklin shared the stage with James Taylor that night. Following her death, Taylor tweeted in remembrance of the singer: “To me, [Aretha Franklin] was really the top, the best. She was one of those people who opened her mouth and out came brilliance.”
Serena Williams won against defending champion Venus Williams, and continued on to become one of the greatest tennis players in history.
After participating in the torch relay in Detroit, Franklin lit the cauldron to help set off the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Following the devastating natural disaster, Franklin hosted an event in Detroit for the dozens of people there who were displaced by the hurricane.
Franklin’s fellow honorees were internet software designer Robert Kahn, historian Robert Conquest, outgoing Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, and actor Andy Griffith.
Franklin would go on to appear several times with President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
The memorial was officially dedicated on October 16,2011, in Washington, DC.
Franklin sang during the ceremony at the Justice Department, where the Attorney General’s official portrait was unveiled.
During the final days of his visit to the United States, Pope Francis watched on as Aretha Franklin performed during the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For more on the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin, read INSIDER’s stories here.
Follow INSIDER on Facebook .
