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The evolution of Aretha Franklin
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  1. Music

The evolution of Aretha Franklin

Seija Rankin
March 25, 2018 AT 09:00 AM EDT
<p>Nothing makes us feel more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMbPwaPD_Rs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural</a> than praising the awesomeness of Aretha Franklin. Today marks her 76th birthday, and what a ride it&#8217;s been. The singer was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 and released her first album,&nbsp;<em>Song of Faith</em>, in 1956. She&#8217;s had an enviable career that has included and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a host of gold and platinum albums. R-E-S-P-E-C-T indeed. Click on to see memorable moments from her life and career.</p>
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Aretha Franklin through the years

Nothing makes us feel more natural than praising the awesomeness of Aretha Franklin. Today marks her 76th birthday, and what a ride it’s been. The singer was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 and released her first album, Song of Faith, in 1956. She’s had an enviable career that has included and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a host of gold and platinum albums. R-E-S-P-E-C-T indeed. Click on to see memorable moments from her life and career.

Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images
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Signing a contract with Atlantic Records in 1966
PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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With husband and manager Ted White in 1968
Roger Bamber/ANL/REX/Shutterstock
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Living up the swingin' '60s
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
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Rocking a diamond ring in an undated photo
Getty Images
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Holding a Grammy Award in 1970
Tim Boxer/Getty Images
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Aretha Franklin with her father and sister in 1971
Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
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Aretha Franklin in Los Angeles in 1980
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
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Onstage at the NBA All-Star Game in 1985
Paul Natkin/Getty Images
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Taping an HBO special with James Brown in 1987
Joe Kennedy/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Backstage at Radio City Music Hall with Oprah Winfrey in 1991
Waring Abbott/Getty Images
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Aretha Franklin, Donald Trump, Clive Davis, and Marla Maples attend a 1992 Grammy Party
Waring Abbott/Getty Images
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On the red carpet of the 39th annual Grammy Awards in 1997
KATHY WILLENS/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Receiving the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award 
STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images
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Performing as part of VH1 Divas 2001: The One and Only Aretha Franklin
SUZANNE PLUNKETT/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Performing at the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama in 2009
REX/Shutterstock
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Addressing the graduates of New York University in 2014
Frank Franklin II/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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On Late Night With Seth Meyers in 2015
Jon Pack/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Aretha Franklin at Lincoln Center in 2015
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Jazz at Lincoln Center
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Aretha Franklin's birthday party in 2015
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Attending the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 25th anniversary gala in 2017
Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Aretha Franklin performs at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival
Taylor Hill/Getty Images
1 of 23

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1 of 22 Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin through the years

Nothing makes us feel more natural than praising the awesomeness of Aretha Franklin. Today marks her 76th birthday, and what a ride it’s been. The singer was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 and released her first album, Song of Faith, in 1956. She’s had an enviable career that has included and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a host of gold and platinum albums. R-E-S-P-E-C-T indeed. Click on to see memorable moments from her life and career.

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2 of 22 PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Signing a contract with Atlantic Records in 1966

3 of 22 Roger Bamber/ANL/REX/Shutterstock

With husband and manager Ted White in 1968

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4 of 22 Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Living up the swingin' '60s

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5 of 22 Getty Images

Rocking a diamond ring in an undated photo

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6 of 22 Tim Boxer/Getty Images

Holding a Grammy Award in 1970

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7 of 22 Anthony Barboza/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin with her father and sister in 1971

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8 of 22 Harry Langdon/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin in Los Angeles in 1980

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9 of 22 Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Onstage at the NBA All-Star Game in 1985

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10 of 22 Joe Kennedy/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Taping an HBO special with James Brown in 1987

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11 of 22 Waring Abbott/Getty Images

Backstage at Radio City Music Hall with Oprah Winfrey in 1991

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12 of 22 Waring Abbott/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin, Donald Trump, Clive Davis, and Marla Maples attend a 1992 Grammy Party

Advertisement
13 of 22 KATHY WILLENS/AP/REX/Shutterstock

On the red carpet of the 39th annual Grammy Awards in 1997

Advertisement
14 of 22 STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images

Receiving the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award 

Advertisement
15 of 22 SUZANNE PLUNKETT/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Performing as part of VH1 Divas 2001: The One and Only Aretha Franklin

Advertisement
16 of 22 REX/Shutterstock

Performing at the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama in 2009

Advertisement
17 of 22 Frank Franklin II/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Addressing the graduates of New York University in 2014

Advertisement
18 of 22 Jon Pack/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

On Late Night With Seth Meyers in 2015

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19 of 22 Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Jazz at Lincoln Center

Aretha Franklin at Lincoln Center in 2015

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20 of 22 Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Aretha Franklin's birthday party in 2015

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21 of 22 Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Attending the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 25th anniversary gala in 2017

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22 of 22 Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin performs at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival

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