Aretha Franklin, otherwise known as the Queen of Soul has been pronounced dead at the age of 76. The Queen got a feel for music at a young age credits to her father Rev. C. L. Franklin. She started her career touring around the country with her dad’s gospel caravan, before signing with Columbia Records and later Atlantic. Franklin’s catalog is filled with more 100 singles that placed on billboard charts, including 17 top 10 pop single and 17 no.1 R&B hits.

In an interview 2007 with New York Times, Aretha recalls her dad telling her that she would “would sing for kings and queens.” She added that she has had the opportunity to do just that as well as sing for presidents. The Queen has sang at pre-inauguration concerts for Jimmy Carter in 1977 and Bill Clinton in 1993 as well as at the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009.

It is no question that Aretha Franklin’s rap sheet is stacked with accolades. She is a legend that will live on. Our prayers go out to the Queen of Soul’s family.