Aretha Franklin, aka The Queen of Soul, has won the Pulitzer Prize, in recognition of “her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades”.

Franklin is the 12th musician and the first female performer to receive the award, joining Bob Dylan, Scott Joplin and John Coltrane. During her career, she won 18 Grammys, had 17 top US chart hits and was the first woman to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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She was known for her powerful voice and her impact on the jazz, soul and rhythm and blues music scene.

Rolling Stone magazine rated her as the greatest singer of all time, after her famous songs including Respect, Chain of Fools and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

She died of pancreatic cancer last August at age 76. Franklin was born in Memphis to a gospel singer/pianist and a Baptist preacher and was inspired by gospel music throughout her career.

Life lessons from Aretha Franklin
Queen Of Soul Portrait