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Monday, April 15, 2019

City Slang

Our Queen, Aretha Franklin, just won a Pulitzer

Posted By Sonia Khaleel on Mon, Apr 15, 2019 at 4:58 PM

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JStone/Shutterstock

Detroit’s queen has been posthumously recognized for her greatness.

Aretha Franklin, our city’s shining star that continues to twinkle after her death, was awarded a special Pulitzer on Monday “for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades,” according to the Pulitzer website.

Franklin joins musicians Bob Dylan, John Coltrane, and Thelonius Monk as a recipient of the “special” designation of this award, and she is the first individual woman to earn the special citation prize since 1930, when the distinction was first awarded. Franklin is no stranger to firsts — she was also the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, back in 1987. She’s also no stranger to awards, as she received the National Medal of Arts in 1999 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Time magazine included her as one of the 20 most important entertainers of the 20th century, while Rolling Stone ranked her as No. 1 on a list of the top 100 singers.

With over 20 hits that reached No. 1 on the R&B charts, millions of albums sold, and 18 Grammys won, the “Respect” is both deserved and well-earned. We are proud of our Queen of Soul, and pleased her accomplishments continue to be highlighted even as her soul rests in peace.

Aretha, “Since You’ve Been Gone” we’re still “Day Dreaming” of you.

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Tags: Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, R&B, music, singer, soul, respect, Pulitzer, Image