Queen of Soul
Franklin dominated the charts and was given the title, “Queen of Soul.” At that time, Franklin also became a symbol of black empowerment during the civil rights movement. She was enlisted to perform at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral, and she sang a beautiful rendition of “Precious Lord” as a tribute for her fallen friend.
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Later that year, Franklin was the singer chosen to sing the national anthem to start the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Although she was gaining newfound success, Franklin was struggling in her personal life. In 1969, she and White got divorced. Luckily, that didn’t interfere with her steady rise. The new decade brought new hit singles, including “Spanish Harlem,” “Don’t Play That Song,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”