Aretha Franklin — who had previously struggled with her health — passed away on August 16, 2018 at 76-years-old.

Aretha was last seen recently performing at an Elton John charity event. She has been ill for a long time, She did not want people to know and she didn’t make it public.

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tenn. in 1942, the daughter of the famous pastor and civil rights activist C. L. Franklin. Aretha Franklin spent 56 years as a legendary singer and songwriter. Franklin has the third-most Grammy Awards for any female artist in history. Back in 1987, Aretha was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the greatest talents in the American Culture.

Live albums: 6

She has won 18 competitive Grammy’s and two honorary Grammy’s. She has 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Respect” (1967) and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also has the most million-selling singles (14) of any female artist[citation needed]. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 No.1 R&B albums—more than any other female artist. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Franklin has been battling cancer for many years, and that her weight was down to 85 lbs. We are so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul is gone. Franklin was alert and speaking, tweeting, right up to the end.

The Queen of Soul’s was surrounded by close friends and family. Aretha Franklin’s family are “asking for prayers and privacy.”