Heroes of the music and entertainment industries have paid tribute to the legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, after her death at the age of 76.
Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, Janelle Monáe, Britney Spears, and scores more have offered statements of sincere thanks to Franklin for her immense contributions to popular music.
Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018
There was a GENIUS that walked this Earth . She was a BLACK WOMAN . She gave us the BLUE PRINT . She RAISED THE BAR . She LAID THE FOUNDATION and her name was QUEEN ARETHA FRANKLIN . We could not forget you if we tried . I am infinitely THANKFUL . #GENIUS #4everbowingtoyouQUEEN pic.twitter.com/z7QjHLW5wI
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 17, 2018
The world lost an incredibly talented woman today. Rest In Peace, @ArethaFranklin… your legacy and music will forever inspire us and future generations 💛 pic.twitter.com/me6FiFo1lM
— Britney Spears 🌹🚀 (@britneyspears) August 16, 2018
Aretha was such a timeless inspiration to me and so many others, the ultimate queen, thank you for the gift of your voice, music and unshakeable soul 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/me3FXBY4WZ
— Christina Aguilera (@xtina) August 16, 2018
Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I’ve ever known. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #Aretha
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 16, 2018
As the One and Only ‘ Queen of Soul ‘ Aretha Franklin was simply peerless. She has reigned supreme, and will always be held in the highest firmament of stars as the most exceptional vocalist, performer and recording artist the world has ever been privileged to witness (1/3)
— Annie Lennox (@AnnieLennox) August 16, 2018
Her voice; her presence; her style
No one did it better
Truly the Queen of Soul
I will miss you!@ArethaFranklin #QueenOfSoul pic.twitter.com/Gw5XEhsxjH— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) August 16, 2018
The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up, I say a little prayer for you
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 16, 2018
RIP to the Queen who gave birth to touching the Soul of the people period. Transition and Rest Easy Queen Aretha.. pic.twitter.com/cLmzksZ53e
— Busta Rhymes (@BustaRhymes) August 16, 2018
RIP Aretha – wonderful wonderful Queen of Song and Soul. We love you. Bri https://t.co/SYqg6rTaTH
— Dr. Brian May (@DrBrianMay) August 17, 2018
RIP Queen of Soul Aretha! look @ this old tweet below👇🏾 we as music lovers must give these LIVING LEGENDS to many to name their flowers now… make it right not just when their gone they deserve to see that their Timeless music is not in vain & have touched the world❤️ https://t.co/VVacLxcMSI
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 16, 2018
Devastated to hear of the loss of Aretha Franklin. Like so many others expressing their sadness today, I owe to her more joy and love of music itself than I’d ever be able to put into words. I’m so grateful for her work and legacy. RIP.
— Hozier (@Hozier) August 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/LeaMichele/status/1030152537381298176
RIP Aretha 💔
— P!nk (@Pink) August 16, 2018
Her influence reached much further than just the music scene, and her genre-defining hits had an outsize influence on generations of public figures. Both Barack and Michelle Obama have spoken about Franklin’s influence as a cultural cornerstone, along with figures from Hollywood and beyond.
Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018
Watching Aretha Franklin perform at the White House, and on so many other occasions, made time stand still. @BarackObama and I are holding Aretha’s family in our hearts right now. She will forever be our Queen of Soul. pic.twitter.com/NhHsbKijpl
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 16, 2018
Aretha, so many memories. Soundtrack to many events. RIP
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) August 16, 2018
Always a bright light,love,prayers,only love RIP Aretha. HH pic.twitter.com/LKZZIZNvND
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) August 16, 2018
Franklin died overnight at her home in Detroit, a publicist confirmed to Variety. She had been faced with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the years before her death.
Across her career Franklin amassed 18 Grammy Awards and charted 73 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 list, the most of any female artist, period. She was also the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987.
RIP to the Queen of Soul.
