Aretha Franklin
Aaron Zigman’s ‘Émigré’ oratorio, about Jews who fled Nazi Germany for Shanghai, has US premiere
By Ronald Blum — March 4, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — His 90-minute, two-act work, given its U.S. premiere by the New York Philharmonic on Thursday night, evokes a World War II-era sound reminiscent of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
Will the Black church continue to sing ‘I Believe I Can Fly’?
By Cheryl Townsend Gilkes — September 30, 2021
(RNS) — From its beginnings, gospel music has had a strained relationship with commercial interests and secular artists.
Jennifer Hudson: Their shared faith ‘definitely’ helped her depict Aretha Franklin in ‘Respect’
By Adelle M. Banks — August 5, 2021
(RNS) — ‘We felt it was very important to maintain her faith throughout the film in telling her story because that was her base,’ Hudson said of the R&B star.
Aretha Franklin sings sweet sounds, recalls roots in ‘Amazing Grace’ documentary
By Adelle M. Banks — April 24, 2019
(RNS) — The long-awaited documentary was delayed for almost five decades in part because of technical issues.
For black women at church, it’s more than the Aretha eulogy
By Corey Williams — September 9, 2018
(AP) — For many black women, the Rev. Jasper Williams Jr.’s eulogy reopened wounds and sternly reminded them that black churches remain male-dominated institutions, where old-school resistance to women holding leadership roles is still alive.
Aretha Franklin’s family says eulogy was offensive
By David Bauder — September 4, 2018
(AP) — The eulogist was criticized for a political address that described children being in a home without a father as 'abortion after birth' and said black lives do not matter unless blacks stop killing each other.
All-star funeral for Franklin begins with prayers, songs
By Yonat Shimron — August 31, 2018
DETROIT (AP) — Ariana Grande sang one of the Queen of Soul's biggest hits, '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' and Faith Hill performed 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus.'
Aretha Franklin started with gospel, ended with soul at age 76
By Adelle M. Banks — August 16, 2018
(RNS) — At age 14 and much later in life, the R&B singer recorded gospel songs at her father's Detroit church.
Vigil held at Detroit church for Aretha Franklin
By Yonat Shimron — August 15, 2018
DETROIT (AP) — The Queen of Soul is seriously ill.
The gospel roots of the ‘Godmother of rock ‘n’ roll’
By Daniel Burke — February 19, 2013
(RNS) Before Elvis and Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash. Before Aretha and Whitney and Beyonce. Before the blues met gospel and conceived rock 'n’ roll, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
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