DETROIT — The "Queen of Soul," legendary singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin, has died, her publicist said Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
BREAKING: Publicist for Aretha Franklin says the Queen of Soul died Thursday at her home in Detroit.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 16, 2018
Family members confirmed Monday to WDIV-TV that Franklin, 76, was gravely ill after a report from entertainment site Showbiz411 claimed she was being surrounded by friends and family in Detroit.
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BREAKING NEWS: I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill. I spoke with her family members this morning. She is asking for your prayers at this time. I’ll have more details as I’m allowed to release.
— Evrod Cassimy (@EvrodCassimy) August 13, 2018
Tom Joyner, a nationally syndicated radio host and friend of Franklin's, said Monday that Franklin has been in hospice care for a week, according to The Detroit News.
Celebrities, friends and fans took to social media with well-wishes for Franklin:
Many of you are asking me to confirm the health status of @ArethaFranklin. Folks, I’ve known for several months. The Queen is surrounded by loved ones. That’s all I will say for now. Please keep her, the family and her longtime support staff in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/F6nMjHQjlP
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) August 13, 2018
My love, prayers and warm thoughts are with Aretha Franklin—the Queen of Soul. I’m praying for her and her health. Thank you to all her family and friends who are standing by her and loving her through her illness. I’m holding you all in my heart.
— Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) August 13, 2018
My Prayers to Aretha Franklin and her family! It's been reported that the Queen of Soul is gravely ill!
— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) August 13, 2018
Continued prayers to you! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2jCBi2VfM4
Franklin had announced plans to retire from touring in February 2017 to focus on her family and a few select projects, the News reported.
"I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from, and where it is now," Franklin told WDIV in 2017. "I'll be pretty much satisfied, but I'm not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn't be good either."
Franklin has canceled several concerts this year due to health issues, Fox13Memphis reported. According to The Associated Press, "she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up."
She performed in her hometown of Detroit in June 2017, the Detroit Free Press reported. She ended the concert with an appeal for those in the crown to, "Please keep me in your prayers," according to the newspaper.
She last performed in November at Elton John's AIDS Foundation gala in New York City, the News reported.
Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her family moved to Detroit when she was young, according to Fox13Memphis.
Franklin started singing when she was young, with encouragement from her mother, Barbara, and her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin. She started out singing gospel but launched a career in secular music after she turned 18. She rose to fame after signing in 1967 with Atlantic Records.
Franklin's career, spanning six decades, has spawned hits including "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools." She's considered one of the best-selling artists of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.
Franklin was inducted in 1987 to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She's earned 18 Grammy Awards and a Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work. In 2005, then-President George W. Bush described Franklin as "a woman of achievement, deep character and a loving heart."
Check back for updates to this developing story.
Cox Media Group