Cash, Please!

Aretha Franklin wasn’t just a legend on stage—she was a master negotiator! She insisted on being paid in cash before her performances. Known to carry large sums in her handbag, she sometimes placed it right on her piano during shows to keep an eye on her earnings. Why? Earlier in her career, she struggled to get paid on time, so she took matters into her own hands!

Self-Taught Pianist

Although known primarily for her powerful voice, Aretha Franklin was also an incredibly skilled pianist. Remarkably, she was self-taught and developed her piano-playing skills by ear, without formal lessons. Her piano abilities were an integral part of her live performances and recordings.

First Lady of Rock and Roll

In 1987, Aretha made history as the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She shattered glass ceilings with hits like "Respect" and "Think," becoming a trailblazer for women in the music industry.

Early Motherhood, Lasting Strength

Aretha Franklin had her first child when she was 12 years old. She gave birth to her first son, Clarence, in 1955. Her second son, Edward, was born two years later, when she was 14. While Aretha’s grandmother and sister helped raise her sons, Aretha remained very involved in their lives despite the challenges of her early motherhood and her burgeoning music career.

The Fear That Grounded Her

Despite her immense fame, Aretha had a fear of flying! After a bad flight in the 1980s, she swore off airplanes and stuck to ground travel, taking buses and cars for her tours. This grounded her international travel a bit but didn’t stop her from ruling the charts!

Cooking Up Some Soul

Not only could Aretha serve up iconic music, but she was also a master in the kitchen! Known for her love of soul food, she even published her own cookbook, Aretha Franklin’s Soul Food Cookbook, featuring recipes for peach cobbler and baked chicken, proving her talents were just as savory as they were sweet.

Gospel Glory

Her gospel album Amazing Grace wasn’t just any album—it was one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time and earned her a platinum certification. It showed that no matter the genre, Aretha’s voice could move mountains.

Degrees of Greatness

Aretha never finished high school, but her voice and contributions to music earned her honorary doctorates from prestigious universities like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Who needs a diploma when you have a voice like hers?

Civil Rights Champion

Aretha was more than just a singer—she was a vocal advocate for civil rights. She used her fame to support the movement, performing at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral and even offering to post bail for activist Angela Davis.

Aretha Franklin wasn’t just the Queen of Soul; she was a powerhouse of talent, spirit, and smarts, whose influence spanned far beyond music!