Aretha Franklin

D. M. Therrell High School student Ja'Marion Hulin, 17, who runs the school's record company, Panther Records, poses for a photograph Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Save the Music Foundation looks to expand its school education support by going independent

The VH1 Save the Music Foundation never had any problem getting attention in the late ’90s when it launched with a party featuring Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2008 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs during the 85th annual Christmas tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. In a decision made Monday, Nov. 28, 2023, Judge Jennifer Callaghan who overseeing the estate of Aretha Franklin assigned real estate to the late music superstar's sons, saying she was following the wishes of a 2014 handwritten will that was found in couch cushions. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Judge cites handwritten will and awards real estate to Aretha Franklin’s sons

FILE - Tony Bennett, left, and Lady Gaga perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, on April 26, 2015 in New Orleans. Bennett died Friday, July 21, 2023. at age 96. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP, File)

Tony Bennett left his heart to generations of music fans

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2008 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs during the 85th annual Christmas tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. A Michigan judge narrowed the issues Monday, July 10, 2023 in a dispute over Franklin's estate, saying the only task for jurors is to decide whether a 2014 document handwritten by the Queen of Soul and found in couch cushions can be accepted as a valid will. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Expensive court fight over Aretha Franklin’s will provides cautionary tale

Aretha Franklin's granddaughter Grace Franklin, 17, smiles while embracing her family members after the jury decided in favor of a 2014 document during a trial over her grandmother's wills at Oakland County Probate Court in Pontiac, Mich., on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. The Queen of Soul died in 2018 at age 76. (Sarahbeth Maney/Detroit Free Press via AP)

Jury decides 2014 document found in Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid will

ShowBiz Minute: Diddy, Franklin, Chalamet

Sean “Diddy” Combs temporarily steps down as Revolt chairman amid sexual abuse allegations; Judge cites handwritten will and awards real estate to Aretha Franklin’s sons; “Wonka” premieres in London. (Nov. 29)

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Best practices for making an estate plan

Best practices for making an estate plan

Document found in Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid will, jury says

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ShowBiz Minute: Strike, Emmys, Franklin

Jury: Handwritten document found in Aretha Franklin’s couch is a valid will

ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Franklin, Lil Nas X

Aretha Franklin’s sons clash over her disputed wills

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2008 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs during the 85th annual Christmas tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. A Michigan judge narrowed the issues Monday, July 10, 2023 in a dispute over Franklin's estate, saying the only task for jurors is to decide whether a 2014 document handwritten by the Queen of Soul and found in couch cushions can be accepted as a valid will. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Aretha Franklin’s sons clash over her wishes in trial over dual wills

ShowBiz Minute: Lee, Franklin, Viktor & Rolf

Aretha Franklin is seen in Auburn Hills, Mich. in a Feb. 11, 2011 photo. Five years after her death, the final wishes of the music superstar are still unsettled. The latest: an unusual trial next Monday to determine which handwritten will, including one found in couch cushions, will guide how her estate is handled. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya_File)

Aretha Franklin’s unsettled estate is subject of upcoming trial

Aretha Franklin is seen in Auburn Hills, Mich. in a Feb. 11, 2011 photo. Five years after her death, the final wishes of the music superstar are still unsettled. The latest: an unusual trial next Monday to determine which handwritten will, including one found in couch cushions, will guide how her estate is handled. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya_File)

Aretha Franklin’s sons battle over handwritten wills 5 years after her death

This image provided by A2H Engineers, Architects, Planners on Aug. 18, 2022, shows digital rendering of the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in Marks, Miss. Organizers are aiming to complete the building in two or three years. The project is the culmination of a 50-year effort to build a hall of fame for R&B musicians such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and B.B. King. (A2H Engineers, Architects, Planners via AP)

R&B Hall of Fame headed to small Mississippi Delta town

Preservation Hall senior member’s album is ’89,’ his age

FILE - Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, appear at Global Citizen Live in Central Park on Sept. 25, 2021, in New York. The couple will receive the President’s Award during the 53rd NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 26. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Jennifer Hudson wins top honor at 53rd NAACP Image Awards

FILE - Honorees Alan, left, and Marilyn Bergman arrive at the ASCAP Film and Television music awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. Oscar-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 at age 93. She teamed with husband Alan Bergman on “The Way We Were,” “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” and hundreds of other songs. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Marilyn Bergman, Oscar-winning composer, dies at age 93

Postal employee Sharon Evans photographs the ceremony honoring Aretha Franklin, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Detroit. Franklin was given a bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T when a post office in her hometown of Detroit was named after the late singer. Members of Franklin's family as well as postal and elected officials visited the former Fox Creek post office to celebrate the name change honoring the Queen of Soul. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit posthumously honors Franklin with post office naming

Group offers October tours of historic Detroit cemeteries

In this Aug. 2, 2021 photo, Jennifer Hudson poses for a portrait to promote "Respect" at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. Hudson has in some ways been preparing to play Aretha Franklin for her entire life, but she was still surprised when the Queen of Soul asked her to take on the role following her Oscar win for “Dreamgirls" in 2007. The film from director Liesl Tommy follows Franklin from childhood through the 1972 recording of the gospel album “Amazing Grace.” It opens nationwide Friday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Jennifer Hudson plays her idol Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’

This image released by MGM shows Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in a scene from "Respect." (Quantrell D. Colbert/MGM via AP)

Review: Aretha Franklin bio ‘Respect’ maybe too respectful

Aretha’s handprints to be unveiled outside Detroit museum

In this combination photo, actress Cynthia Erivo portrays Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic miniseries "Genius: Aretha," left, and Aretha Franklin holds her Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blue performance of the song "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," in New York on March 13, 1972. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff, File)

With much respect, Cynthia Erivo takes on Queen of Soul

U.S. military units march in front of the Capitol, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 in Washington, as they rehearse for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, which will be held at the Capitol on Wednesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Biden aims for unifying speech at daunting moment for US

Women’s Hall of Fame honors Aretha Franklin, Morrison, Lacks

FILE - This May 1, 2019 file photo shows Drake at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Earning his 21st No. 1 hit on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, Drake has bested a record previously held by icons Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Drake's “Laugh Now Cry Later," featuring rapper Lil Durk, reached the No. 1 spot on the chart this week. Wonder and Franklin, who died in 2018, each have had 20 songs top the chart. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Drake bests Aretha Franklin, Wonder to set Billboard record

This image released by Peacock shows Harry Belafonte in a scene from the documentary "The Sit-In," about a week in 1968 when Belafonte filled in as host of "The Tonight Show." The film airs Friday. (Big Beach/Peacock via AP)

The week Harry Belafonte took over TV is subject of new doc

FILE - Aretha Franklin performs at the world premiere of "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives" at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 19, 2017. A never-before-heard solo version of “Never Gonna Break My Faith,” Aretha Franklin’s riveting and powerful collaboration with Mary J. Blige, was released Friday, which is Juneteenth, the holiday to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the U.S. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

New solo version of Aretha song about race, faith released

In this March 13, 1972 photo, Aretha Franklin holds her Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blue performance of the song "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," in New York. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)

Aretha Franklin: A Life in Photos

Aretha Franklin’s niece quitting as executor of estate

FILE - This Feb. 25, 1998 file photo shows Aretha Franklin after performing "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's "Turandot" as a last-minute replacement for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti at the 40th Annual ...

After 40 Years, Grammy show producer bows out his way

Recording artist Meghan Trainor attends the Tommy Hilfiger runway show during NYFW Spring/Summer 2020 at the Apollo Theater on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Hilfiger joins with Zendaya for joyous ‘70s Harlem party

Dr. Manisha H. Shah stands outside her office at the Ohio State University Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Regardless of her reputation as a performer, Aretha Franklin's cancer doctors say she was no diva as a patient. Shah and Dr. Philip Philip say she didn't demand star treatment and was keen on doing whatever needed to be done. She also wanted to keep her music going as long as possible, which also impressed them.(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Aretha Franklin’s cancer doctors recall her grace, grit

The Latest: Handwriting expert to examine Franklin will

Actresses of color make equal-pay quest a group effort