What followed was an unparalleled and legendary career that saw her crowned the Queen of Soul.
Ahead, see photos from her time as one of the greatest voices ever.
Mid-1960s
Aretha must have known she was on her way to becoming the Queen of Soul.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
1968
Franklin married her first husband, Ted White, in 1961 at age 19.
They had one son, Ted White Jr., and divorced in 1969, following reports of domestic abuse.
June 1968
Franklin performed at the Martin Luther King Jr.
Gilles Petard/Redferns
Benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 28, 1968.
May 1969
On May 4, 1969, Franklin was a guest onThe Andy Williams Show.
1971
Aretha looked serious while posing with her father, Baptist preacher C.L.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Franklin, and younger sister Carolyn.
The lovebirds married at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.
She also made a memorable appearance as a waitress in theThe Blues Brotherswith Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.
PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
January 1987
The Queen of Soul teamed up with the King of Soul (a.k.a.
James Brown) for an HBO special taped in Detroit on Jan. 11, 1987.
2001
Franklin was honored in 2001 at theVH1 Divas 2001: The One and Only Aretha Franklintribute.
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
She also became the second woman inducted into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame.
April 12, 2013
Franklin brougth her amazing voice to Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in 2013.
December 15, 2015
Franklin posed backstage with Jennifer Hudson after a Broadway performance ofThe Color Purple.
Roger Bamber/ANL/REX/Shutterstock
Hudson is set to play the Queen of Soul in an upcoming biopic.
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