Born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin found success with the 1961 hit “Won’t Be Long,” which was her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
After 73 Hot 100 entries, 16 top 10 pop singles, 96 R&B chart entries, and 20 number-one R&B singles, Franklin became the most charted female artist in Billboard history. She also won 18 Grammy Awards, sold over 75 million records worldwide, and became the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sadly, on August 16, Franklin passed away at the age of 76 from advanced pancreatic cancer, according to her representative.
Over the years, Franklin has spoken on the record about various topics, including her musical influences and her personal life. These are some of the funniest, most inspiring, and most revealing quotes from the Queen of Soul.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire
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