Queen of Soul, gravely ill
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is gravely ill, according to reports from her hometown of Detroit in the United States.
Franklin, 76, has the third-most Grammy Awards (18) for any female artist in history and in an interview last year said she had plans to retire after the release of her new album.
Franklin spent 56 years as a legendary singer and songwriter.
Known for hits such as "Respect" (1967) and "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968), Franklin was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and last performed in November last year for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York.
Franklin's other hits include "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1968), "Day Dreaming" (1972), "Jump to It" (1982), "Freeway of Love" (1985), and "A Rose Is Still A Rose," (1998).
In 1987 she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What are your favourite Aretha Franklin songs?
Very sad..one of my all time favourite soul singers. It seems all the greats are on the way out. My favourite song is..
Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer: her very best performance!