Remembering Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin performs on the Madison Central stage during the Detroit Music Weekend on  June 10, 2017, in Detroit.

Franklin and her son Kecalf Cunningham stand under the newly unveiled street sign in front of the Music Hall in Detroit, June 8, 2017.

Franklin performs at the world premiere of "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives" at Radio City Music Hall, during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

In 2011, Franklin performs at a Labor Day event outside of the Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Aretha Franklin braves the chilly Michigan temperatures to perform at the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving Day home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 24, 2016, at Ford Field.

Aretha Franklin sings during a memorial service for her father and brother, Rev. C.L. and Rev. Cecil Franklin, at New Bethel Baptist Church where they were ministers, in Detroit, Mich. on  June 7, 2015.

President Barack Obama fist bumps with Aretha Franklin who sang during a farwell ceremony for Attorney General Eric Holder at the Justice Department Feb. 27, 2015 in Washington, DC. The ceremony was held to unveil the Attorney General's official portrait and commemorate his tenure before his expected departure from the department after more than six years of service.

Franklin blows out her birthday candles on March 22, 2015, three days shy of turning 73. She celebrated with then-Attorney General Eric Holder, left, journalist Tamron Hall and producer Clive Davis at New York's Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The Motown legend takes in a Detroit Pistons home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 11, 2015.

Aretha Franklin performs at the Wisconsin State Fair on Aug. 5, 2014 in West Allis, Wis.

Franklin walks in a procession during Harvard University commencement ceremonies May 29, 2014, in Cambridge, Mass. Franklin was presented an honorary Doctor of Arts degree during the ceremony.

Aretha Franklin, veteran producer Don Was, right, and longtime friend and producer Kenny (Babyface) Edmonds met to talk about their upcoming album in 2013.

First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden watch as Aretha Franklin performs during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC on Oct. 16, 2011

Franklin belts out the National Anthem prior to the start of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers on Oct. 11, 2011.

Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett perform  during Bennett's 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at The Metropolitan Opera House on Sept. 18, 2011, in New York City.

Aretha Franklin and Oprah Winfrey acknowledge fans during a star-studded double-taping of "Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular" on May 17, 2011, in Chicago.

Franklin was all smiles after a 2011 game between the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, and Aretha Franklin perform at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on July 27, 2010.

Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in Philadelphia on July 26, 2010.

Aretha Franklin hosts a high tea listening party at the Detroit Fish Market for her soon-to-be released CD, "A Woman Falling Out of Love" on Feb. 26, 2010,  As the songs play her sister-in-law Earline Franklin of Detroit, left and friend Ali Woodson a former lead singer with the Temptations of Los Angeles get up to sing and clap and show their enthusiasm for the new CD.

The Queen of Soul performs at the 77th Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in New York City on Dec. 2, 2009.

Berry Gordy hugs Aretha Franklin while Jesse Jackson and a guest look on at the Motown 50 Golden Gala Live it Again Weekend in Detroit on Nov. 21, 2009.

Aretha Franklin, a 1987 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, performs at the institution's 25th-anniversary show Oct. 30, 2009, in New York.

Franklin is joined by Josh Groban, Susan Sarandon, Lil' Kim and Cyndi Lauper for the finale of the Mandela Day Concert, celebrating the 91st birthday of South African leader Nelson Mandela at New York's Radio City Music Hall on July 18, 2009.

It may have been 28 degrees out but that didn't stop Franklin from singing at President Barack Obama's first inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009.

Aretha Franklin performs during the 2008 Memphis in May Beale St. Music Festival on May 4, 2008.

Franklin performed at eight different Grammy ceremonies,  tying her with Whitney Houston for the most appearances. She first performed in 1971 and last performed in 2008, when she was honored as the MusiCares' Person of the Year.

Aretha Franklin performs during a ceremony honoring the late African-American tennis player Althea Gibson at the US Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. on Aug. 27, 2007.

Aretha Franklin snaps a photo of an academic procession before the 2007 commencement at the University of Pennsylvania commencement ceremony, where she received an honorary degree.

When the pinnacle of the sports season takes place in Detroit, only one name will do when it comes time to do the national anthem. Franklin did the honors a Super Bowl XL in February 2006.

President Bush awards singer Aretha Franklin the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 9, 2005. It is the highest civilian award given.

In addition to her many Grammy appearances, Franklin's iconic voice was also featured on the Tony Awards. Here, she performs with host Hugh Jackman at the 2005 ceremony honoring Broadway's best.

Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti laughs along with Aretha Franklin and the group Boyz II Men (rear) after accepting the eighth MusiCares Foundation "Person of the Year" award in New York on Feb. 23, 1998.

Kirk Douglas applauds Aretha Franklin at a reception for the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 4, 1994, at the White House. The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes American performance artists who have made lifetime contributions to American culture.

Aretha Franklin performs in the finale of "Aretha Franklin: Duets," an AIDS benefit concert for the Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York on April 28, 1993, as singers Smokey Robinson, background from left, Gloria Estefan, Rod Stewart, Bonnie Raitt and actors Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro look on.

Aretha Franklin performs during the 47th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on April 8, 1975.

Though she's the Queen of Soul, Franklin had no qualms about sharing the spotlight. When George Michael, her duet partner from 1987's "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me," came to Detroit on his Faith world tour the next year, she joined him onstage.

She also shared a stage with James Brown at Detroit's Taboo night club in Detroit in January 1987 for a HBO special.

Aretha Franklin speaks to reporters at a Music Hall news conference in Detroit in March 1988.

Franklin also made her mark on the big screen, appearing with John Belushi, left, and Dan Aykroyd in the 1980 classic "The Blues Brothers.

Franklin won a Grammy Award for her performance on "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards  in 1975.

Aretha Franklin at a news conference on March 26, 1973

Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to reporters at the Operation PUSH Soul Picnic in New York with Tom Todd, vice president of PUSH, from second left, Aretha Franklin and Louis Stokes on March 26, 1972.

Aretha Franklin sings a few notes into a microphone in Jan. 28, 1972.