Images: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin sings with Stevie Wonder at the finale of the VH1 Divas 2001: The One and Only Aretha Franklin in this file photo from April 10, 2001, in New York.
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Performer Aretha Franklin receives a honorary degree during the University of Pennsylvania Commencement ceremony in Philadelphia, Monday, May 14, 2007.
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Host Hugh Jackman, right, leans to kiss Aretha Franklin after they sang together at the 2005 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday, June 5, 2005.
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President Bush awards singer Aretha Franklin the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, in Washington.
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Aretha Franklin performs Natural Woman at the conclusion of her show at An Evening of Stars Tribute to Aretha Franklin Saturday Sept. 9, 2006 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA .
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Soul singer Aretha Franklin, center, gets a round of applause after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, in Washington. To the right is Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan, second from right, and actor Andy Griffith who were also recipients of the award.
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In this Nov. 21, 2008 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
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Aretha Franklin performs at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Friday, Mar. 21, 2008. The concert was the first of two sold-out shows.
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Aretha Franklin poses as she arrives at the MusiCares tribute to her where she was honored as their person of the year, Friday night, Feb. 8, 2008, in Los Angeles.
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Aretha Franklin performs at An Evening of Stars Tribute to Aretha Franklin Saturday Sept. 9, 2006 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA .
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Aretha Franklin clowns around with MTVs Alan Hunt and other members of the Muck in America crew at her West Bloomfield, Mich., home, Aug. 1, 1986.
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Singing great Aretha Franklin joins George Michael during his Faith World Tour in Auburn Hills, Mich., Aug. 30, 1988.
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Aretha Franklin performs during the inauguration ceremony as Joe Biden, left, Barack Obama, right, and his daughter Malia Obama watch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
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Singer Aretha Franklin signs autographs for traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before she rings the closing bell, Thursday Dec. 4, 2008.
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Aretha Franklin performs at pre-inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, Jan. 1993.
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In this Oct. 30, 2009 file photo, Aretha Franklin performs at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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In this Jan. 20, 2009 file photo, Aretha Franklin wears a gray felt custom-designed hat as she performs at the inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Franklin says it would be hard to part with the hat since the day was a crowning moment in history, but will consider donating the hat to the Smithsonian Institution for an exhibit.
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Aretha Franklin performs at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
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Aretha Franklin is shown in this March 1, 1994 file photo at the Grammy Awards.
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Singer Aretha Franklin dances on stage during the first annual march on cancer Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998, in Washington. The daylong event, known as ``The March, drew thousands of cancer survivors, patients, and loved ones descending on the National Mall to remember cancer victims and to ask for more research funds.
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Singer Aretha Franklin poses with her Grammy Award at the 17th Annual Grammy Award presentation in New York on March 3, 1975. The award is for her performance in Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing. Franklin has won every Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance, Female since this category was created in 1968.
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Sylvester Levay and Aretha Franklin,right, are shown at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Feb. 28, 1976.
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In this Jan. 11, 1987 file photo, soul singers James Brown and Aretha Franklin sing during a Home Box Office taping at the Taboo night club in Detroit.
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President Clinton prepares to kiss singer Aretha Franklin after awarding her with a National Medal of Arts during a ceremony in Washington Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999. First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is at left.
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Soul singer Aretha Franklin performs during the 47th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, Ca. on Tuesday, April 8, 1975.
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Vocalist Aretha Franklin warbles a few notes into microphone in Jan. 28, 1972 photo.
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Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin pose after they performed their first song together at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 27, 2010.
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Aretha Franklin holds both shoes and award after being honored during the 10th annual American Music Award presentation in Los Angele, Jan. 17, 1983. Ms. Franklin received her third American Music award by winning the honor for favorite soul album with Jump To It.
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Soul singer Aretha Franklin is shown at a news conference on March 26, 1973.
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American singer Aretha Franklin, center, is taken into custody by a policeman at the airport in Rome, June 28, 1971 when airport officials prevented the singer from taking a flight for Paris following the filing of a complaint by an Italian organizer for a breach of contract. Miss Franklin was released after a search of her luggage.
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Singing great Aretha Franklin joins George Michael during his Faith World Tour in Auburn Hills, Mich., Aug. 30, 1988.
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