Aretha Franklin Dies At 76 Years Old

Music legend Aretha Franklin passed away on Thursday to advanced pancreatic cancer, her publicist told the Associated Press. The "Queen of Soul," best known for hits like "Respect," "Think," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," was 76 years old.

Franklin died on 9:50 a.m. this morning at home in Detroit. The singer's family responded to her passing in a statement:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.

We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.

Funeral arrangements will be made in the coming days, AP reports.

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The news follows reports that the singer was "gravely ill," Franklin's family told Detroit TV news station WDIV on Monday. Anchor Evrod Cassimy tweeted:

BREAKING NEWS: I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill. I spoke with her family members this morning. She is asking for your prayers at this time. I’ll have more details as I’m allowed to release.

Earlier tabloid reports over the weekend also suggested Franklin was gravely ill and "surrounded by family and people close to her" in Detroit, her hometown, according to USA Today.

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Franklin's last public performance was in Philadelphia in August 2017, though her most recent performance was at for Elton John's AIDS Foundation in New York in November 2017, USA Today adds. In March, she had also cancelled two concerts in New Jersey, following doctor's orders to rest for two months.

A source told TMZ that two weeks ago, "everyone in Aretha's circle was told 'she could go any time.'" A longtime friend of the singer also told the site that she had been battling cancer. She previously underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2010, and has often been ill since, per Variety.

Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, per NBC. She released her first album, Songs of Faith, in 1956. Decades later, she went on to become an 18-time Grammy winner and earn the record for most Billboard Top 100 hits by a female artist. She held the title for nearly 40 years before she was surpassed by Nicki Minaj this March.

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This post has been updated.

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US