Aretha Franklin — Timeline
Key moments in the life of Aretha Franklin.
1942
Born Aretha Louise Franklin on March 25 in Memphis, Tennessee
1956
Released first recording 'Never Grow Old' at age 14 on Decca Records
1960
Signed to Columbia Records and released debut album 'Aretha'
1967
Signed to Atlantic Records and released 'I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You,' establishing her as the Queen of Soul
1968
Released 'Respect,' which became her signature song and an anthem of the civil rights movement
1971
Won first Grammy Award for Best Female Soul Vocal Performance
1987
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the first female artist
2009
Performed the national anthem at President Barack Obama's presidential inauguration
2014
Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
2018
Died on August 16 in Detroit, Michigan, at age 76