Aretha Franklin blossomed into arguably the greatest singer of all time, but the fame and acclaim wasn’t achieved overnight. The Queen of Soul flexed her enviable vocal chords from a young age, which took her from singing in the church to ultimately signing a major record contract and releasing her debut album at the age of 18.
Scroll through the below photos showing scenes from early on in her career on her way to fully earning her iconic nickname.
1. Denise Nicholas And Aretha Franklin On ‘Room 222’
Source:GettyDenise Nicholas and Aretha Franklin on ABC Television series, ‘Room 222,’ January 14, 1972. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
2. Aretha Franklin, circa 1960s
Source:WENN3. Aretha Franklin At The 50th Annual Academy Awards
Source:GettyAretha Franklin at the 50th Annual Academy Awards, April 3, 1978. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
4. Muhammad Ali And Aretha Franklin On Muhammad Ali Variety Special
Source:Getty(L-R) Muhammad Ali and Aretha Franklin on Muhammad Ali Variety Special, May 16, 1975. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
5. Aretha Franklin Singing On Muhammad Ali Variety Special
Source:GettyAretha Franklin on Muhammad Ali Variety Special, May 16, 1975. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
6. Aretha Franklin, circa 1970s
Source:WENN7. Aretha Franklin Singing With Tom Jones On ‘This Is Tom Jones’
Source:GettyAretha Franklin with Tom Jones on ‘This is Tom Jones,’ October 9, 1970. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
8. Aretha Franklin Performing at Madison Square Garden
Source:GettySinger Aretha Franklin performing at a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute called Soul Together on June 28, 1968 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photo by PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
9. Aretha Franklin sur scène
Source:GettyAretha Franklin performs at a jazz festival. (Photo by GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
10. Aretha Fanklin pictured in the summer of 1970
Source:GettyAretha Fanklin pictured in London, 28th July 1972. (Photo by Eric Piper/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
11. Aretha Franklin In Boston In 1971
Source:GettyBOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 16: Aretha Franklin performs at the Boston Commons on Sept. 16, 1971. (Photo by John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) vertical,photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,usa,performance,1970-1979,boston – massachusetts,archival,aretha franklin,massachusetts,boston common