queen of soul
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The IRS Wants All of Its Money From Aretha Franklin, Who Reportedly Owed Millions in Back Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service is a goon when it comes to its money. The tax org gets its money in life…or in death. Sigh. Aretha Franklin’s estate reportedly owes $6.3 million in unpaid taxes and $1.5 million in penalties attributed to the late legendary singer from 2012 to 2018, according to TMZ. The huge tax…
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In a New Interview, Smokey Robinson Says He Regrets Not Recording With Friend Aretha Franklin
They knew each other almost all their lives, but in the many decades that Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin shared a friendship and mutual admiration, they never made it into the studio to record. Anyone who heard the two briefly duet on The Miracles’ “Ooh, Baby, Baby” (penned by Smokey) on a 1979 episode of…
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A Long-Awaited Aretha Doc Is Now Due for Release—But Is That What the Queen of Soul Wanted?
Try to sit through the two minutes and 38 seconds of the Amazing Grace trailer without getting the least bit emotional. We dare you. In fact, we’ll wait. It’s been less than three months since Aretha Franklin died, but now, a Sydney Pollack-directed documentary chronicling the recording of her seminal 1972 live gospel double album…
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Own a Piece of Music History: Items from Aretha Franklin’s Stage Wardrobe Are Going to Auction
A portion of music legend Aretha Franklin’s extensive wardrobe will be up for auction on Saturday, Nov. 10, at New York City’s Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. World-breaking auction house, Julien’s Auctions, which specializes in film, music, sports, and art auctions, will be selling more than 30 stage dresses and accessories worn by the…
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Livestream: Aretha Franklin’s Funeral in Detroit
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is being laid to rest today in Detroit in what will be a star-studded celebration of her life, music and legacy. Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Bill Clinton and Stevie Wonder are just a few of the luminaries who will pay their R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts to…
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Fit for a Queen: Even in Death, Aretha Franklin Makes a Fashion Statement
As mourners filed past Aretha Franklin lying in repose on the first of a two-day public viewing at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, they were likely comforted to see that the Queen of Soul, avid lover of luxury, was to be buried as she lived—in high style. As reported by USA…
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Forever and Ever You'll Stay in These Charts: Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits Album Reaches Billboard Top 10 Following Her Death
The Queen of Soul, true to form, is posthumously ruling the charts this week. Billboard reports that following Franklin’s death last week, her 30 Greatest Hits album hit the top 10 on the Billboard 200, which tracks album sales. Not only are sales for the album up an astounding 12,693 percent, this also marks the…
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Aretha Franklin's Family Planning Public Viewing at Detroit's African American History Museum: Report
When Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, the tributes immediately started churning out. The legendary singer’s passing dominated the news cycle, social media lit up with pictures and heartfelt tributes from across the globe. In her hometown of Detroit, memorials were on display across some of…
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'R-E-S-P-E-C-T': Aretha Created a Women’s Anthem Out of a Song Written for a Man
If you grew up a lover of soul music, you know that today, Aug. 16, 2018, is a day to honor the memory of the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who died on Thursday at age 76 of pancreatic cancer. For those of us who will be playing her music for the remainder of…
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The Queen of Soul Reigns Supreme: Our Top 6 Aretha Franklin Live Performances
It may seem like a fool’s errand to try and pick the top live performances of Aretha Franklin’s storied career, which spanned 60 years, because, frankly, whenever she was on stage, that performance was likely going to become a moment. (I’ve had the good fortune to see her live twice and both performances will make…