Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomizes soul at its most gospel-charged Aretha's acheivments include more than a dozen million-selling singles, 20 No. 1 R&B hits, a cover story in Time, a civil rights award from Martin Luther King Jr., a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 15 Grammys (including a lifetime achievement award in 1995) and a role alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the cinematic jewel,The Blues Brothers.