'A blow for everyone who loves real music': tributes pour in for Aretha Franklin

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

The world lost an incredibly talented woman today. Rest In Peace, @ArethaFranklin… your legacy and music will forever inspire us and future generations ? pic.twitter.com/me6FiFo1lM

— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) August 16, 2018

RIP Aretha Franklin what a voice x

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) August 16, 2018

Aretha.

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) August 16, 2016

Franklin gave her final public performance last November at the Elton John Aids Foundation gala in New York. Elton John paid tribute to his American contemporary with a touching note on Instagram.

“The loss of Aretha Franklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music,” he wrote.

“I adored her and worshiped her talent. God bless her. My condolences to all her family and friends,” he added.

The loss of Aretha Franklin 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. I was fortunate enough to spend time with her and witness her last performance – a benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at St John The Divine Cathedral. She was obviously unwell, and I wasn’t sure she could perform. But Aretha did and she raised the roof. She sang and played magnificently, and we all wept. We were witnessing the greatest soul artist of all time. I adored her and worshipped her talent. God bless her. My condolences to all her family and friends. We shared the same birthday – and that meant so much to me. The whole world will miss her but will always rejoice in her remarkable legacy. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. @arethasings #RIP #ArethaFranklin #QueenOfSoul @ejaf. –eltonjohn

American singer and producer Quincy Jones, with whom Franklin had collaborated, took to Twitter to praise his friend’s “professionalism, class, grace, & humility.”
“I treasured every moment that we spent together,” Jones wrote, adding: “You will reign as the Queen forever.”

I treasured every moment that we spent together from working in the recording studio, to performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or simply hangin’ in the kitchen, & I will miss her dearly. RIP Ree-Ree…You will reign as the Queen forever. pic.twitter.com/Gyr3q13n8P

— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) August 16, 2018

Sony Music praised the singer for inspiring “countless musicians and fans” as well as for creating “a legacy that paved the way for a long line of strong female artists.”

Over Aretha Franklin’s decades-long career, which included many years with the Sony Music family, she inspired countless musicians and fans, and created a legacy that paved the way for a long line of strong female artists. Sony Music joins the world in mourning her passing. pic.twitter.com/YPQp8DoLIh

— Legacy Recordings (@SonyLegacyRecs) August 16, 2018

Tributes also fused from the world of politics with Donald Trump describing her as “a great woman.”Franklin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2005.

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said that “we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine”every time Franklin sang.
“Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all,” they added.
Franklin famously reduced the former US president to tears with a rendition of her hit song “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” in 2015. She also sang at Obama’s inauguration in 2009.

The Obama’s statement on Aretha Franklin’s passing: “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.” pic.twitter.com/zfCh4qup2r

— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) August 16, 2018

Mourning the loss today of @ArethaFranklin who shared her spirit and talent with the world. She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts. Rest in eternal peace, my friend.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 16, 2018

We’re saddened by the loss of Aretha Franklin. Asteroid 249516 Aretha, found by our NEOWISE mission and named after the singer to commemorate the #QueenOfSoul, will keep orbiting beyond Mars. See more details: https://t.co/NlW4vkmKDq pic.twitter.com/yZ0E5ofSQT

— NASA (@NASA) August 16, 2018