‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin is Gravely Ill, According to Several Reports

August 13, 2018 Awww, Entertainment, Health, Music, National News

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” – ed singer Aretha Franklin, has been dealing with serious health issues for several years. On Monday, The Associated Press reported that Franklin was very sick, but no other details have been provided.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee but raised in Detroit, Aretha is the daughter a Baptist preacher. She spend a majority of her youth singing in the church choir. With her father’s connections to major gossip artists, Aretha began making music at the age of 14; later continuing her journey touring with Sam Cooke.

Franklin held the record for most Billboard hot 100 hits of any female artist until surpassed by Nicki Minaj in 2017. Franklin has been nominated for Grammy Awards 44 times, winning 18 times.

Franklin underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in December 2010 and since then has frequently been ill. Following doctor’s orders, Franklin has cancelled several performances since last summer, including a March 25 show, in Newark, N.J., taking place on her birthday and New Orleans Jazz Fest in April.

Our thoughts and prayers rest with Aretha, and her loved ones.

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Danielle Germain
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Danielle Germain (she/her/hers) is originally from Long Island, New York. She is a rising junior at The American University, majoring in Broadcast Journalism, and minoring in Political Science. She partakes in various activities on campus. Danielle is a Teacher's Assistant, the Vice President of Programming for Caribbean Circle, The Social Media Director and Web Manager for The Blackprint, Programming Coordinator for Founder's Week Committee, Senior Communications Strategist for AUSG Center for Advocacy and Student Equity or CASE, Secretary of the Junior Class Council and a Club Consultant for American University Club Council. After learning more about herself freshman year, Danielle became deeply interested in pushing diversity and inclusion forward. Since then, Danielle has started The Purpose, a bible study for students of color at AU. By creating a safe space on campus, she hopes that the voices of those who feel underrepresented are heard and also valued. In her free time, Danielle enjoys going to brunch and watching Gossip Girl. This past summer, Danielle served as the Corporate Communications Intern for Macy's Inc. Danielle has a passion for politics and a love for writing, and one day hopes to become a political commentator for CNN. She can be reached at dg0060a@student.american.edu.

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