Pregnant at 12 and married to an abusive pimp by the age of 19, Aretha Franklin had a far from easy life before she was crowned the Queen of Soul. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, one of five children, her meteoric rise to fame is the subject of a major new film released in the UK next month – Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson.
Aretha’s early life was troubled right from the beginning. Her parents – the Rev. Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (known as CL and a serial adulterer) and Barbara Siggers (a gifted church pianist and gospel singer) – had a stormy relationship.
By the time Aretha was six, her mother had left the family home, taking her eldest child, a son from a previous relationship, and leaving Aretha and her remaining siblings with their volatile father.
A close friend of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr, CL drove a Cadillac and wore sharp suits with alligator-skin shoes. In 1946, he became the pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where a precociously talented Aretha would perform for the congregation.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
