By NAN ET Editor
Caribbean roots Hollywood stars and public figures are among millions around the globe paying R-E-S-P-E-C-T and weighing in on the passing of iconic singer and ‘Queen of Soul,’ Aretha Franklin.
Franklin, 76, died on Thursday morning at her home in Detroit following a battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Trinidad-born rapper, Nicki Minaj, kicked off a jam-packed third episode of Beats 1’s Queen Radio on Thursday shortly after noon ET, with the music community in mourning following Franklin’s death by calling the legendary singer “an icon of all icons.”
“I don’t know anyone who she hasn’t inspired,” she said. “It seems strange to wake up and hear she passed, even though she lived a long and fulfilled life. But still, we’ve lost one of our icons. Someone we’ve all been inspired by.”
The 35-year-old rapper reflected on learning the Detroit native’s 1967 anthem “Respect” in school as a child. “I remember being in school learning ‘Respect,’ and that felt like a mini national anthem for us. It’s so weird how everyone grew up with that song,” Minaj said. “What I love about the song is not just saying ‘give me respect,’ it’s demanding respect. I like strong and iconic women. She was unapologetically the Queen.”
“The Queen of Soul has left this earth to sit on her throne in heaven. How blessed we were to hear the best that God had to offer in her voice. RESPECT!,” Bahamian-roots singer Lenny Kravitz posted on Twitter shortly after news broke of the passing of the legend.
“For as long as I can remember, Aretha Franklin has been the absolute zenith, the guiding light, the master for any girl that aspired to sing or even just appreciated someone at the top of their game,” Cuban singer Gloria Estefan posted on Instagram. “I was blessed to have sung with her on more than one occasion and each time I felt that I was in the presence of musical royalty that would forever raise the bar and set the standard. Long live the Queen of Soul through her extraordinary & singular voice and her indelible music.”
‘Hamilton’ creator, Puerto Rico-roots, Lin-Manuel Miranda, tweeted that he was “lucky enough to have seen Aretha live exactly once …. thank you for the music, we will be listening to you forever” while Jamaican roots model, Naomi Campbell called Franklin a “true Queen.”
“It was an honor to have met you and worked with you,” she added.
Caribbean American Congresswoman, Yvette Clarke, called Franklin “the voice of my childhood.”
“A powerhouse. An advocate. A legend. THE Queen of Soul. There was no one like her, nor will there ever be. Rest in Power, Ms. Franklin,” she tweeted.
An all-star tribute concert to Franklin, celebrating her music, is scheduled for November 14, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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