1. Aretha Franklin Rehearses in a Dance Studio, 1961
Choreographer Charlie “Cholly” Atkins instructs Franklin as she rehearses at a microphone in a leotard in a dance studio in 1961.
2. Aretha Franklin Performs at Madison Square Garden, 1968
Franklin bends down onstage to shake hands with a crowd of fans at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sept. 1, 1968.
3. Aretha Franklin Recording in New York, 1969
Franklin sings in the Atlantic Records studio during ‘The Weight’ recording session on January 9, 1969, in New York City, New York.
4. Aretha Franklin with her Album Aretha Franklin Soul, 1969
Franklin reviews a copy of her album Aretha Franklin: Soul ’69 at Atlantic Records Studios on Jan. 9, 1969, in New York City.
5. Aretha Franklin Performs ‘Think’ on the Andy Williams Show, 1969
Franklin was a frequent guest on the show.
6. Aretha Franklin at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, 1971
Franklin proudly rocks her fro as she accepts the award for “Best R&B Vocal Performance.”
7. Aretha Franklin Sings at Mahalia Jackson’s Memorial Service, 1972
Franklin sings during the memorial service for gospel singer Mahalia Jackson at McCormick Place. As she sang “Precious Lord,” mourners broke into tears and some fainted. About 5,000 people attended the service.
8. Aretha Franklin at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards, 1972
Franklin holds her Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues performance of the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on March 13, 1972, in New York.
9. Aretha Franklin Makes Guest Appearance on Show ‘Room 222,’ 1972
Franklin joins Richard Kelton and John David Carson on Walt Disney Television series, “Room 222,” January 14, 1972.
10. Aretha Franklin at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards, 1975
Franklin poses with her Grammy for her performance in “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in New York on March 3, 1975.
11. Aretha Franklin Performs on Soul Train, 1976
Franklin performs on Soul Train on November 13, 1976.
12. Aretha Franklin’s 35th Birthday Party, 1977
Franklin looks stunning on her 35th birthday sporting a short cut, gold earrings, and a lilac dress.
13. Aretha Franklin at the PUSH-Excel-A-thon Event, 1979
Franklin, her then-husband, actor Glynn Turman, and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson attend the PUSH-Excel-A-thon (People United to Save Humanity) held at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, US, April 21, 1979.
14. Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson, 1979
Franklin and Smokey Robinson are interviewed by Don Cornelius after performing a live version of “Ooo Baby Baby” together on Soul Train on December 1, 1979.
15. Aretha Franklin Performs with James Brown, 1987
Franklin and the Godfather of Soul singer James Brown perform at Taboo nightclub in Detroit on January 11, 1987.
16. Aretha Franklin Performs for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, 1992
Franklin wows the crowd at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign committee fall dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel Washington DC on September 23, 1992.
17. Aretha Franklin at the Hollywood Christmas Parade
Franklin attends a holiday parade with her then-husband and actor Glynn Turman.
18. Aretha Franklin Performs at President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Gala, 1993
Franklin performs alongside Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross at the Lincoln Memorial for President Bill Clinton’s inaugural gala in Washington, DC, on Jan. 17, 1993.
19. Aretha Franklin Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2005
Franklin tears up as President George W. Bush presents her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civil award, in the East Room of the White House on November 5, 2005.
20. Aretha Franklin Sings at President Barack Obama’s Inauguration, 2009
Franklin sings “My Country Tis of Thee” at the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama. This monumental event could not have been done without the legendary Aretha Franklin crooning the anthem from the top of her lungs.
21. Aretha Franklin Attends Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular, 2011
Franklin surprises Oprah Winfrey during a star-studded double-tapping of The Oprah Winfrey Show farewell on May 17, 2011.
22. Aretha Franklin Performs at the Martin Luther King Memorial Dedication, 2011
Franklin performs with U.S. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Harry Johnson, president and CEO of the MLK National Memorial Project Fund looking on during the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial on the National Mall October 16, 2011, in Washington, DC.
23. Aretha Franklin Awarded Honorary Doctorate at Harvard University, 2014
Franklin receives an honorary doctorate at Harvard University commencement with former President George H.W. Bush and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Cambridge, MA on May 29, 2014.
24. Aretha Franklin Performs at Farewell Ceremony for Attorney General Eric Holder, 2015
Attorney General Eric Holder praises Franklin after her performance during his farewell ceremony at the Justice Department on February 27, 2015, in Washington, DC.
25. Aretha Franklin Fist Bumps President Obama, 2015
President Barack Obama fist bumps with singer Franklin who sang during a farewell ceremony for Attorney General Eric Holder at the Justice Department on February 27, 2015, in Washington, DC.