Aretha Franklin

1942 – 2018 · died at about 76^[1][2]

Music

Fun Facts About Aretha Franklin

• Aretha Franklin stepped in for an ill Luciano Pavarotti at the 1998 Grammys and sang the opera aria "Nessun dorma", a performance seen by more than one billion people.^[1]
• Michigan declared Franklin's voice a state "natural resource" in 1985, and in 1987 she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.^[1]
• In 1969 a fake Aretha Franklin toured Florida venues; she was exposed because she charged only a fraction of the real singer's fee.^[1]
• After an incident in 1984, Franklin's fear of flying kept her from traveling overseas, and she performed only in North America for the rest of her career.^[1]
• Though she is linked with Detroit, Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, delivered at the family home on Lucy Avenue.^[1]
• Franklin won 18 Grammy Awards, including the first eight ever given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and an asteroid, 249516 Aretha, is named after her.^[1]
• Aretha Franklin was alive at the same time as Nikola Tesla — their lives overlapped for 1 year (1942–1943).^[1][2][3][4]
• Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley died on the same day of the year, August 16.^[1][2][5][6]

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.^[1]

Contemporaries

Stan Lee

76 yr overlap

James Watson

76 yr overlap

Noam Chomsky

76 yr overlap

Desmond Tutu

76 yr overlap

Toni Morrison

76 yr overlap

Wole Soyinka

76 yr overlap

Jane Goodall

76 yr overlap

Dalai Lama

76 yr overlap

Woody Allen

76 yr overlap

Pope Francis

76 yr overlap

Francis Ford Coppola

76 yr overlap

Pelé

76 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Aretha Franklin

When was Aretha Franklin born?

Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, and died on August 16, 2018.

How old was Aretha Franklin at death?

Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, and died on August 16, 2018, at age 76.

What was Aretha Franklin known for?

Aretha Franklin was known for: Queen of Soul, Respect. Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.

Who was alive at the same time as Aretha Franklin?

Aretha Franklin's closest contemporary was Stan Lee. Their lives overlapped for 76 years.