Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer and songwriter with a reported net worth of $60 million.
Franklin began her career as a child singing gospel at the church of her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church. In 1960, at the age of 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieving modest success.
After signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Spanish Harlem” and “Think”. By the end of the 1960s, Franklin was considered “The Queen of Soul”. During the course of her career, Franklin won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide.
Aretha Franklin Net Worth 2017: $60 Million
Aretha Franklin, the legendary singer and songwriter known for hits such as “RESPECT” “Spanish Harlem” and “Think”, has a net worth of approximately $60 million.
1950-1980
Franklin began singing at New Bethel, debuting with the hymn, “Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me”.
After turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke to record pop music. Serving as her manager, C. L. agreed to the move and helped to produce a two-song demo that soon was brought to the attention of Columbia Records, who agreed to sign her in 1960.
Franklin’s first Columbia single, “Today I Sing the Blues”, was released in September 1960 and later reached the top ten of the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart.
In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin’s first secular album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo.
By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top ten on the R&B chart with the ballad, “Runnin’ Out of Fools”.
1980-2000
In 1980, after leaving Atlantic Records, Franklin signed with Clive Davis’ Arista Records and that same year gave a command performance at the Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth.
In 1985, inspired by her desire to have a “younger sound” in her music, her fifth Arista album, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?”, became her first album to be certified platinum, after selling well over a million copies.
Franklin returned to the charts in 1993 with the dance song “A Deeper Love” and returned to the top 40 with the song “Willing to Forgive” in 1994.
In 1998, Franklin returned to the top 40 with the song, “A Rose Is Still a Rose”
2000-Present
Franklin performed The Star Spangled Banner with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL, held in her hometown of Detroit in February 2006.
In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University.
As of 2014, Franklin is now signed under RCA Records.
In October 2014 Franklin became the first woman to have 100 songs on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with the success of her cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”.
In November 2017, it was reported that Franklin was battling cancer.
