She has been regarded as one of the most influential soul singers of all time, with her phenomenal vocal capabilities.
Aretha Franklin captured hearts across the world with her ability to flaunt her vocal powers in the up-and-coming soul music market in the mid 20th century. Lending her vocals to some of the biggest hits of the century, including “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, Franklin wowed audiences with her ability to connect to her music.
But away from the limelight, the Queen of Soul lived a much more modest life, filled with trials and tribulations galore. She also lived a long and prosperous life, filled with love and support from her loved ones.
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So, as the world celebrates what would have been Aretha’s 82nd birthday, Daily Star looks at Aretha’s secretive private life.
Young mother
(Image: FilmMagic)
Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, and was already welcomed into a large family, as both parents had children from separate relationships, as well as the four kids they had together. This idea for a large family was well-implanted in Aretha’s mind when she was young as she would go on to have a large clan of children herself.
In 1957, aged just 12, Aretha fell pregnant with her first child and gave birth to the baby boy, Clarence, on January 28, 1955. She would go on to have a second child at the age of 15, together with the same man – Edward John, though Aretha was never comfortable discussing her pregnancies with interviewers.
However, her teen pregnancies were not going to hold the starlet back and as she pursued her music career, Aretha’s family, such as sister Erma and grandmother Rachel, would take turns looking after the children. Franklin would eventually go on to two more children herself, and would be a grandmother to several grandchildren later on in her life.
Experiences with domestic abuse
(Image: NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Despite her experiences with teenage pregnancy, Aretha grew up quickly, tying the knot twice in her life. Her first marriage to Ted White came in 1961, when she was aged 18, and the pair initially hit it off.
However, as time went on, the relationship soon turned sour and Aretha soon became the victim of some terrifying domestic abuse at the hands of her manager. Many of the public instances came in 1967 when Ted had “roughed her up” on more than one occasion.
The true details of her marriage to Ted were never publicly aired, but Aretha channelled her frustrations from her doomed marriage into her music. Throughout their time together, Aretha birthed tracks including “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You)”, which many fans believe tells the story of her marriage to White.
Franklin’s marriage to Ted would not last long as the pair would eventually separate in 1968. Their divorce was formally finalised one year later.
Secret cancer diagnosis
(Image: Getty Images)
In 2010, well into her career, Franklin cancelled a number of concerts due to having surgery for a mystery illness. However, she outright refused to entertain rumours that she had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Throughout the final years of her life, she cancelled a series of other concerts due to medical illness, but refused to open up on what the ailments were. Franklin would continue to perform right up until her death in August 2018.
Following a post-mortem examination, it was revealed that Aretha had been battling a malignant pancreatic tumour, which was different to that of pancreatic cancer outright. Following her death at the age of 76, she was honoured by politicians, musicians and entertainers alike as she was described as defining “the American experience”.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
