Aretha Franklin passes away at the age of 76

Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has passed away at the age of 76 from advanced pancreatic cancer.

According to The Associated Press, publicist Gwendolyn Quinn revealed to the AP through a family statement that Franklin died Thursday at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit.

The statement said:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds. We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.

Join us as Soul Town (Ch. 49) becomes The Aretha Franklin Tribute Channel in honour of her contribution to popular music. The weeklong channel will feature music from her iconic career as well as archival interviews and tributes from fans, friends, and family. UPDATE: The Aretha Franklin Tribute Channel has been extended through Friday, August 31st.

Listen live to SiriusXM VOLUME and SiriusXM Soul Town to follow the sad news and celebrate Aretha Franklin’s legacy.