Aretha Franklin is best known as "The Queen of Soul." She was abandoned by her mother at age six and was raised by her father. She grew-up singing gospel in her father's New Bethal Baptist Church in Mowtown. Her Aunt was the well known gospel singer Clara Ward. Her fame did not start in till she signed-up with Atlantic Records. She maid her #1 hits singing "Respect," "Natural Women," "Chain of Fools," and "I Never Loved a Man." In 1968 she made the front cover of "Time" magazine. The seventies created a dark age for her career with disco being hot and a divorce followed by a re-marriage. In 1985 she gained control with a hit song inspired by her father's death. She got another Grammy Award in 1984 and entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Today she is well known as one of the greatest "divas" of this century. (Diva: a term for hit female artists which have created some of the greatest impacts in the musical world of today especially being a women.)

By: Pam Wachrathit