A Look Back at Aretha Franklin's Soulful 76 Years of Life

After a lengthy battle with cancer, Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76 [1] on Aug. 16, leaving behind a musical legacy that will never be forgotten. Immediately following her passing, celebrities including Lenny Kravitz [2], Shania Twain, Shonda Rhimes, former President Barack Obama, and more paid their respects to the Queen of Soul with heartfelt tributes [3] on social media. To honour Aretha's memory, we're taking a look back at some of her most notable pictures through the years, ranging from passionate concert performances to glamorous award show appearances. Queue up our playlist of essential Aretha songs [4], and take a look through the snapshots ahead.