Aretha Franklin has certainly earned her title as "Queen of Soul." The iconic singer accomplished so much over her career, including breaking down barriers for the future of music, and she will definitely be missed.
After a battle with pancreatic cancer, Aretha passed away at 76 years old, surrounded by family and people close to her in Detroit, Michigan. In a statement, her family said, "In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds."
Aretha's family added, "We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."
There is no doubt that Aretha inspired many incredible artists, as a handful of them have covered some of her biggest songs and paid tribute to her over the years, including her iconic hit "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman."
"Natural Woman" was co-written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and released as a single in 1967. Over the years, the song has been covered by artists who have been inspired by Aretha, like Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Adele, and many others.
Watch all of these amazing "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman" covers below.
Whitney Houston
Alicia Keys
Adele
Celine Dion
Mary J. Blige
Kelly Clarkson
Carole King
Aretha with Carole King, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan
Demi Lovato
A very young Ariana Grande
Remember the Queen of Soul and her legacy by listening to iHeartRadio's tribute on the Classic Soul station:
Photo: Getty Images