--- name: "Aretha Franklin" canonical: "https://film.one/person/aretha-franklin" fi1m_id: "aretha-franklin" imdb_id: "nm0291349" tmdb_id: 7175 wikidata_id: "Q125121" roles: ["Actor"] born: "25 March 1942" died: "16 August 2018" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-10-03T03:17:57.359764+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Aretha Franklin ## Identity Aretha Franklin - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/aretha-franklin - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** aretha-franklin - **IMDb ID:** nm0291349 - **TMDB ID:** 7175 - **Wikidata ID:** Q125121 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125121, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291349/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7175 Actor. Born 25 March 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Died 16 August 2018. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 25 March 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, USA - **Died:** 16 August 2018 - **Also known as:** The Queen of Soul, Aretha Louise Franklin - **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 acting, 1 other - **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe nomination - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (1), 2020s 75 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125121, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291349/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7175 ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*The Blues Brothers*](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md) (81), [*WHAM!*](https://film.one/film/wham.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Aretha Franklin (25 March 1942 – 16 August 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Credited as an actor, she appeared as Mrs. Murphy in the 1980 film *The Blues Brothers* and reprised the role in *Blues Brothers 2000* (1998). She also provided voice work as the Homebuilt Computer and a singer in the animated film *The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue* (1997). Franklin made numerous television appearances as herself, including on *Murphy Brown* (1988) and various awards shows and documentaries such as *Amazing Grace* (2018) and *Muscle Shoals* (2013). Her screen work often featured performances of her well-known songs. *Sources: slashfilm.com, vanityfair.com, esquire.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) ### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these - *The Blues Brothers* (1980), Fi1m 81, as Mrs. Murphy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *WHAM!* (2023), Fi1m 75, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/wham.md) ## Complete filmography (8) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Upside* (2019), In Memory Of - *It's Black Entertainment* (2002), as Mrs. Murphy (archive footage) - *Blues Brothers 2000* (1998), as Mrs. Murphy - *The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue* (1997), as Homebuilt Computer / Singer (voice) - *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Aretha Franklin — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) - *WWF Superstars* (1986), series, as Aretha Franklin - *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Songs — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md) - *The Blues Brothers* (1980), as Mrs. Murphy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md) ## Gallery - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-2cb7c093bba0.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Atlantic Records (Life time: Published before 1978 without a copyright notice), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Aretha_Franklin_1968.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![2012: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is joined onstage by Academy of Achievement Awards Council member General Colin Powell during her inspiring musical performa](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-a05e72903bc0.jpg) 2012: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is joined onstage by Academy of Achievement Awards Council member General Colin Powell during her inspiring musical performa — Jarc12030, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/2012-Aretha_Franklin_is_joined_onstage_by_Academy_Awards_Council_member_General_Colin_Powell_during_her_performance_to_close_the_evening_of_the_50th_annual_Banquet_of_the_Golden_Plate_ceremonies_in_Washington%2C_D.C.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Verbatim from the source: “The Queen of Soul — Aretha Franklin — was waiting for her cue during ‘The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House’ when I](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-ae71eea24bd4.jpg) Verbatim from the source: “The Queen of Soul — Aretha Franklin — was waiting for her cue during ‘The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House’ when I — Pete Souza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Aretha_Franklin%2C_The_Gospel_Tradition_In_Performance_at_the_White_House%2C_2015.jpg/1280px-Aretha_Franklin%2C_The_Gospel_Tradition_In_Performance_at_the_White_House%2C_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Verbatim from the source: “The Queen of Soul — Aretha Franklin — was waiting for her cue during ‘The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House’ when I](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-65ea7496f01d.jpg) Verbatim from the source: “The Queen of Soul — Aretha Franklin — was waiting for her cue during ‘The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House’ when I — Pete Souza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Aretha_Franklin%2C_The_Gospel_Tradition_In_Performance_at_the_White_House%2C_2015_%28cut%29.jpg/1280px-Aretha_Franklin%2C_The_Gospel_Tradition_In_Performance_at_the_White_House%2C_2015_%28cut%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-5db3064a933d.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-1635f5bb53f0.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-534a8a99cd21.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB - ![Franklin at the Larry King Gala 2010](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-98dfc1cd282d.jpg) Franklin at the Larry King Gala 2010 — Joe Ortuzar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Aretha_Franklin.jpg/1280px-Aretha_Franklin.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Trade ad for Aretha Franklin's single "Baby I Love You".To better adapt it to Wikipedia articles, the ad was cropped and cleaned in a graphics editing program. ](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-88f4bc4a3585.png) Trade ad for Aretha Franklin's single "Baby I Love You".To better adapt it to Wikipedia articles, the ad was cropped and cleaned in a graphics editing program. — Atlantic Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Aretha_Franklin.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-315622d45ee1.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-32ef52ef1f2e.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB - ![Aretha Franklin](https://film.one/media/person/117529/gallery-0f8c2eeb55ca.jpg) Aretha Franklin — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2006: Best Original Song (nominated) ### Other awards — 41 won, 29 nominated - Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards 2019: Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards (won) - honorary doctor of Harvard University 2014: honorary doctor of Harvard University (won) - Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2012: Gospel Music Hall of Fame (won) - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 2010: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated) - honorary doctor of Yale University 2010: honorary doctor of Yale University (won) - Grammy Hall of Fame 2008: Grammy Hall of Fame (won), for *I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You* - MusiCares Person of the Year 2008: MusiCares Person of the Year (won) - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group 2008: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group (nominated) - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist 2008: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance 2007: Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance (won) - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song 2006: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance 2005: Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance (won) - Presidential Medal of Freedom 2005: Presidential Medal of Freedom (won) - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist 2004: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist (nominated) - Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female 2004: Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female (nominated), for *So Damn Happy* - Grammy Award for Best R&B Album 2003: Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (nominated), for *So Damn Happy* - Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance 2003: Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance (won) - Michigan Women's Hall of Fame 2001: Michigan Women's Hall of Fame (won) - Grammy Hall of Fame 2000: Grammy Hall of Fame (won) - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 1999: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated) - National Medal of Arts 1999: National Medal of Arts (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1998: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated), for *A Rose Is Still a Rose* - Grammy Award for Best R&B Album 1998: Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (nominated), for *A Rose Is Still a Rose* - Grammy Hall of Fame 1998: Grammy Hall of Fame (won), for *(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman* - Grammy Hall of Fame 1997: Grammy Hall of Fame (won) - NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award 1997: NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1994: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 1994: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (won) - Kennedy Center Honors 1994: Kennedy Center Honors (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1993: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 1993: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1991: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated), for *What You See Is What You Sweat* - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 1991: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated) - Grammy Legend Award 1991: Grammy Legend Award (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1989: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated), for *Through the Storm* - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 1989: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female 1988: Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female (won), for *One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism* - Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Solo 1988: Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Solo (nominated), for *One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism* - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1987: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won), for *Aretha* - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 1987: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (won) - MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film 1987: MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film (nominated) - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1987: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (won) - Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Group or Band 1987: Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Group or Band (nominated), for *Amazing Grace* - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1986: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1986: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated) - MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video 1986: MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1985: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 1985: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (nominated) - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1984: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (won) - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album 1983: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album (won), for *Jump to It* - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1983: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1983: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated), for *Get It Right* - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1982: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1981: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1980: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (nominated) - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1977: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (won) - American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1976: American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1974: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1973: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance 1972: Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1972: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won), for *Young, Gifted and Black* - Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance 1972: Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance (won), for *Amazing Grace* - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1971: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1970: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1969: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance 1968: Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1968: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance 1967: Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (nominated) - Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 1967: Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (won) - Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance 1967: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/aretha-franklin