"Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin has passed away on Thursday (August 16) according to a statement from her family.
The 76-year-old singer died in her Detroit home in the US due to advanced pancreatic cancer.
Tributes for Aretha has flooded social media including messages from former US President Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018
Watching Aretha Franklin perform at the White House, and on so many other occasions, made time stand still. @BarackObama and I are holding Aretha’s family in our hearts right now. She will forever be our Queen of Soul. pic.twitter.com/NhHsbKijpl
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 16, 2018
Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018
Rest in Peace Aretha Franklin. Her voice inspired and touched so many and will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/s4kjaDRCig
— Ashley Tisdale (@ashleytisdale) August 16, 2018
"FOLLOW YOUR OWN HEART AND YOUR OWN PATH." We look back on one of the 'Queen of Soul's last interviews on @TheView in 2008 when she talked about her hit 'A Natural Woman' — and she shared her advice to aspiring musicians. https://t.co/swQdE3SLsn
— The View (@TheView) August 16, 2018
RIP, Aretha Franklin. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/acb7SQeB3X
RIP To The Queen of Soul. Thank you for inspiring the world with your beautiful voice and spirit @ArethaFranklin. pic.twitter.com/YbhBBHtct2
— Luther Vandross (@OfficialLutherV) August 16, 2018
Wow... farewell #QueenOfSoul. Your songs and voice have forever changed the course of music and singers. #riparetha pic.twitter.com/iK1FsBEv7z
— David Archuleta (@DavidArchie) August 16, 2018
Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I've ever known. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #Aretha
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 16, 2018
We lost arguably one of the best voices in music today. #RIPAretha
— Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) August 16, 2018
This photo was taken in 2012 when Aretha & I performed at a tribute celebration for our friend Marvin Hamlisch. It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer,but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world pic.twitter.com/Px9zVB90MM
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) August 16, 2018
The loss of @ArethaFranklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music: Music from the heart, the soul and the Church. Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated – she was one of my favourite pianists. pic.twitter.com/ug5oZYywAz
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 16, 2018
Aretha was the first woman admitted to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. She had 88 Billboard chart hits including "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and "Think."