Aretha Franklin is seriously ill

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, multiple Grammy Award winner, is seriously ill. She is surrounded by family and friends in Detroit who are asking fans to pray for the singer’s recovery, but also seek privacy during this difficult time, her friend and journalist Roger Friedman reported on Showbiz 411.

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Aretha Franklin, the singer best known for hits like “Respect” (1967) and “I Say a Little Prayer” (1968), was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, writes Telegraph.

She last performed in November of last year for Elton John’s foundation in the fight against AIDS in New York. Prior to that, she sang in Philadelphia in August. Describing the performance, Friedman stated: “It was a miraculous performance considering her exhaustion and dehydration.”

She was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Throughout her long career, Franklin won 18 Grammys, including one for lifetime achievement.

Among Franklin’s numerous hits, others stand out such as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (1968), “Day Dreaming” (1972), “Jump To It” (1982), “Freeway of Love” (1985), and “A Rose Is Still A Rose” (1998).

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In 2005, President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American civilian honor.