Broadcast: March 24, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
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Born on March 25th, 1942, Aretha began her career, singing gospel at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister.
In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, by recording with Columbia Records but achieving only modest success.After signing to Atlantic Records in 1966, Aretha achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", "Chain of Fools", "Think", "A Natural Woman", "Don't Play That Song", and "Spanish Harlem". She recorded 112 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles, becoming the most charted female artist in the chart's history.
Aretha also won 18 Grammy Awards, including the first eight awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance from 1968 through 1975. She’s one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide.