Aretha Franklin: The most captivating photos you've never seen

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The Queen of Soul, long may she reign

Heilemann/Camera Press/Redux

From her gospel beginnings in the early ’50s to her 2014 cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Aretha Franklin — who died Aug. 16 at 76 — wowed audiences with the power of her incomparably intense and instantly recognizable mezzo-soprano. Ahead, we look back at some of her most captivating performance and behind-the-scenes photos.

Pictured: Franklin in New York’s Central Park in 1968.

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Posing for a portrait circa 1970

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ at Madison Square Garden in 1968

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Backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey, in 1969

Walter Iooss/Getty Images

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With Stevie Wonder during a BET Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2012

Kris Connor/Getty Images

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Photo session with Art Kane in 1967

Art Kane

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Posing for a portrait in 1973

Anthony Barboza/Getty Images

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Posing for a portrait in Los Angeles in 1980

Harry Langdon/Getty Images

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Holding a copy of her album Soul ’69 in the Atlantic Records studios in New York in 1969

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Continued on next slide.

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In the studio with Jerry Jemmott, Spooner Oldham, Tommy Cogbill, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, and Arif Mardin in 1968

David Gahr/Getty Images

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Performing with Mariah Carey for VH1 Divas Live in 1998

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

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View of the Apollo Theater in New York in 1971

Tyrone Dukes/The New York Times/Redux

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EW's tribute issue

To read more on Aretha Franklin’s legacy, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here now. Don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.

Replay gallery

The most captivating photos of Aretha Franklin you've probably never seen

1 of 14

The Queen of Soul, long may she reign

2 of 14

Posing for a portrait circa 1970

3 of 14

Singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ at Madison Square Garden in 1968

4 of 14

Backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey, in 1969

5 of 14

With Stevie Wonder during a BET Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2012

6 of 14

Photo session with Art Kane in 1967

7 of 14

Posing for a portrait in 1973

8 of 14

Posing for a portrait in Los Angeles in 1980

9 of 14

Holding a copy of her album Soul ’69 in the Atlantic Records studios in New York in 1969

10 of 14

In the studio with Jerry Jemmott, Spooner Oldham, Tommy Cogbill, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, and Arif Mardin in 1968

11 of 14

Performing with Mariah Carey for VH1 Divas Live in 1998

12 of 14

View of the Apollo Theater in New York in 1971

13 of 14

EW's tribute issue

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The most captivating photos of Aretha Franklin you've probably never seen

1 of 14

The Queen of Soul, long may she reign

2 of 14

Posing for a portrait circa 1970

3 of 14

Singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ at Madison Square Garden in 1968

4 of 14

Backstage before a performance at Symphony Hall in Newark, New Jersey, in 1969

5 of 14

With Stevie Wonder during a BET Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2012

6 of 14

Photo session with Art Kane in 1967

7 of 14

Posing for a portrait in 1973

8 of 14

Posing for a portrait in Los Angeles in 1980

9 of 14

Holding a copy of her album Soul ’69 in the Atlantic Records studios in New York in 1969

10 of 14

In the studio with Jerry Jemmott, Spooner Oldham, Tommy Cogbill, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, and Arif Mardin in 1968

11 of 14

Performing with Mariah Carey for VH1 Divas Live in 1998

12 of 14

View of the Apollo Theater in New York in 1971

13 of 14

EW's tribute issue

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