Aretha Franklin, the soulful voice that changed the world, has been pronounced dead, according to a statement from her publicist. The news of her death comes just days after the revolutionary singer and songwriter is said to have been “gravely ill” according to friends and family close to the situation.
BREAKING: Publicist for Aretha Franklin says the Queen of Soul died Thursday at her home in Detroit.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 16, 2018
According to her publicist’s statement, Franklin died at 9:50 a.m. surrounded by her family and friends at her home in Detroit.
Franklin’s family has stated:
The “official cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.
Additionally, they added:
In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bound.
Statement from Aretha Franklin's family: pic.twitter.com/PHxm9e6b4E
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) August 16, 2018
Aretha Franklin, without a doubt, changed the music industry forever and we will always remember her and allow her legacy to live on. In honor of her memory, here’s one of our favorite performances at the Kennedy Center Honors where she brought former President Barack Obama to tears.
May she rest in peace.
This is a developing story.