Aretha Franklin was born on March 15, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. She grew up with a father who was a Baptist minister, and a mother who died of a heart attack when she was younger who played the piano. She started her career as a gospel singer and over the years transformed into soul. It was in 1967 she was officially titled the “Queen of Soul,” due to her natural vocal ability and stage presence. She was able to fuse multiple genres together like, jazz, R&B, gospel, disco, and of course soul to make herself stand out. She made hit after hit like, “Respect,” “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and many, many more. Aretha Franklin didn’t always have it sunshine and rainbows just like most female artists in that time. She struggled with drinking and health problems, a bad marriage, and just everyday tests that we all endure. But, she never let that stop her be the force she will forever be remembered as. Before her passing Ms. Franklin received many honors such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2020 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Aretha Franklin was also nominated 44 times for a Grammy Award and died with 18 wins under her belt.