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The elusive musical palace lost its Queen – the “Queen of Soul,” that is – on August 16 when Detroit native Aretha Franklin passed away in her home. EBONY magazine continues to celebrate the life and work of the singer, songwriter and all-around musical legend in a retrospective look at Franklin’s influential and acclaimed career that spanned more than 50 years and earned her 18 Grammys.
Franklin was no stranger to the EBONY/JET family. Over a 40-year period, the songstress appeared on a total of 30 covers (four for EBONY and 26 for JET). In the issues’ accompanying exclusive interviews, the icon shared intimate details about her family, her gospel roots and her road to stardom, among many other subjects, often reminding readers that nothing worth having comes easily.
"It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to," said then-22-year-old Franklin in a 1964 EBONY interview.
In memory of the legend, experience Aretha Franklin covers, images and video from the EBONY experience.
