Aretha is from the Greek aretē (virtue, excellence). **Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)** — the **American singer crowned "Queen of Soul" — winner of 18 Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), and the National Medal of Arts (1999); the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)**. **Her 1967 recordings *Respect*, *(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman*, *Chain of Fools*, and *Think* defined American soul music**. **Rolling Stone ranked her #1 on its 2010 list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time**. **Sang at the inaugurations of three US presidents** (Carter, Clinton, Obama).
Subject of Liesl Tommy's *Respect* (2021 film) starring Jennifer Hudson.
Aretha reduces to eight — the number of Queen of Soul.