The Queen of Soul has passed away at the age of 76.
Aretha Franklin has been in hospice the last few days with celebrities saying their final goodbyes.
It was reported last week that she was gravely ill and stricken with cancer.
A concert in her is being planned for later there in New York at Madison Square Garden.
"Franklin died in her hometown Detroit after struggling with health problems in recent years and falling seriously ill within the past week.Franklin was perhaps best known for "Respect" - the Otis Redding cover that her powerful voice transformed into a bold anthem and demand for dignity adopted by the feminist movement in the 1970s."