Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, dies at 76.

One of the most powerful and beloved voices of all time passes away in Detroit. [npr extra]( Aretha Franklin Was America's Truest Voice [Aretha Franklin sings in the studio during during her early career at Columbia Records.]( Frank Driggs Collection/Getty Images Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," died Thursday in Detroit after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 76. Franklin sold more than 75 million records during her life, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She took soul to a new level and inspired generations of singers who came after her. [Read more]( from [NPR’s Ted Robbins](. An Appreciation Of The Music Icon [Aretha Franklin performs at the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C., in 2013. ]( Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images [NPR’S Ann Powers]( Franklin's voice as the voice of America. No other contemporary artist embodied the nation's brash optimism with as much flair, nor exemplified its sorrow-forged resilience as convincingly. No one better expressed American joy. Her murmurs gave shape to a sensuality that defeated repressive moral codes and replaced them with the commandments of tenderness, of sweet bitter love. Her high notes made hope happen. When she sang, we remembered that we could walk on the moon. [Read more](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( The Fresh Air Interview [Aretha Franklin poses for the cameras in 1968.]( Express Newspapers/Getty Images The Queen of Soul rarely gave interviews, so we were delighted when she sat down for a Fresh Air interview in 1999. Franklin spoke about her father's gospel influence, growing up with Sam Cooke, crossing over to pop music and more. [Read Franklin's edited conversation]( with [NPR's Terry Gross](. Aretha Franklin: The Essentials [Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in 1967.]( Express Newspapers/Getty Images Explore beyond Franklin's namesake hits like "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" to appreciate Franklin's monumental highlights with [NPR Music's In Memoriam playlist](. Aretha Franklin: The Deep Cuts [Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in 1967.]( Atlantic Records Though the Detroit-raised powerhouse is known for chart-topping hits like "Respect," "Think" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," true fans know there's just as much beauty in the Aretha songs with a few less spins in the jukebox. NPR Music staff members recall their favorite [Aretha Franklin deep cuts]( — from the lesser-known B-sides of the 1960s to the unexpected dance music collaborations of the '80s. [Read more](. Aretha's Feminist Anthem [Aretha Franklin performs with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center for Performing Arts in 2010.]( Jeff Fusco/Getty Images No one saw it coming, but the song Aretha Franklin laid down on Valentine's Day 1967 would go on to become one of the greatest recordings of all time. ["Respect"]( hit the top of the charts four months later and turned Aretha Franklin into a feminist champion. The song became a transformative moment — not only in her career but also in the women's rights movement and the civil rights movement. [Read more](. You received this message because you're subscribed to our Music emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]