Aretha Franklin News

Aretha Franklin cancels Brown Univ. appearance

May 20, 2009 8:00 am PDT

Brown University officials say Aretha Franklin will miss the school's commencement because of a family emergency. The university announced Wednesday that a representative for the "Queen of Soul" called to say a family emergency would keep...

Franklin records new version of inauguration song

Feb 5, 2009 11:00 am PST

President Barack Obama took a do-over on his oath of office. Now the Queen of Soul is following his lead. Aretha Franklin has recorded a "preferred version" of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," the song she performed at Obama's Jan. 20 inaugur...

Aretha gave Obama collection of dad's sermons

Jan 23, 2009 10:00 am PST

Aretha Franklin did more than sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration. She also came bearing gifts. Her spokeswoman, Gwendolyn Quinn, says Franklin gave Obama a collection of 17 sermons by her late father,...

Requests flood in for 'Queen of Soul's' custom hat

Jan 22, 2009 4:00 pm PST

The calls began to flood Luke Song's hat shop not long after Aretha Franklin finished belting out "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Franklin, who wore a gray felt custom-designed hat from Mr. Song Millin...

Aretha Franklin warms up for inauguration

Jan 20, 2009 3:00 am PST

Aretha Franklin punched her fist in the air and yelled, "Tomorrow!" She didn't need to say Barack Obama's name. The crowd roared its approval. It was an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day concert, not an inaugural event, but thoughts of Ob...