8 Things You Never Knew About Aretha Franklin

It’s always sad to see great people pass away. Aretha Franklin, the world’s beloved Queen of Soul, has led a spectacular life filled with singing, personal drama, and as much talent as one can dream about. We’ve seen her perform numerous times, and watching her sing can bring tears to the eyes of most stern men. Her rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ is simply breathtaking! But not many of us know about the things she’s been through on her way to stardom. From her tough childhood to the one song that made her truly famous, we present you 8 things you never knew about Aretha Franklin.

 

 

Childhood trauma
Aretha Franklin’s childhood was rough. Her mother left the family when she was a young girl, leaving Aretha and four more kids at the custody of her dad. While being separated from mom was not easy, they still spent time together until, suddenly, her mother died from heart attack. Aretha was just 10 years old and barely survived her mother’s death. According to her father, she didn’t speak for weeks and he was afraid she would never recover. Fortunately, she did!

 

 

Music saved her
Little Aretha Franklin first tried singing at her father’s Baptist church, where she would pour her heart and soul into singing gospels. Ruth Bowen, her father, remembers just how powerful her singing was, so far from what a child would usually do. She would go in front of everyone, sing her heart out in a beautiful and mature way, and then go back to her seat, turning into the little sad girl once again. She also had the rare perfect pitch and could play the piano perfectly.

 

She married young
Not many people know that Aretha Franklin met her first husband and manager, Ted White, when she was just a preteen. Back in 1954, Ted visited one of the parties organized by Aretha’s father, and that’s where the two met. Recognizing her talent and potential for success, he soon became Aretha’s manager. She was just 14 years old when they recorded her first album with gospel songs. The two got married in 1961, engaging in a somewhat rough relationship. Ted White was of a possessive type and didn’t hesitate to hit Aretha in public. They divorced five years later.

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via Entertainment News