Aretha Franklin at the Obama inauguration in 2009 Photo Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force, Public Domain

Aretha Franklin’s family have issued the following statement today: 

“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 bounds. We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha, and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Sebastian writes:

I was lucky enough to hear Aretha at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2014, and to review the concert. We will have a tribute from a major UK-based singer in the next few days.