President Trump joined a slew of public figures Thursday in mourning the death of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
“The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
[Related: Obamas on Aretha Franklin: ‘Every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine’]
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018
Trump added his “warmest best wishes and sympathies” to Franklin’s family Thursday ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
“I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions,” he said. “She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing. She’s brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God — her voice, and she used to well. People loved Aretha. She was a special woman. So just want to pass on my warmest best wishes and sympathies to her family.”
Gwendolyn Quinn, Franklin’s publicist, shared a statement from the icon’s family with the Associated Press Thursday morning revealing that the singer had died at her Detroit home after a prolonged fight with pancreatic cancer.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took to Twitter shortly after the news broke, saying Franklin deserved “our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts.”
“Rest in eternal peace, my friend,” she wrote.
Mourning the loss today of @ArethaFranklin who shared her spirit and talent with the world. She deserves not only our RESPECT but also our lasting gratitude for opening our eyes, ears and hearts. Rest in eternal peace, my friend.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 16, 2018
Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, wrote on Monday when Franklin’s failing health first became public that the singer-songwriter’s music had “been such an important part of our lives the last 50 years.”
“We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you,” he tweeted.
Like people all around the world, Hillary and I are thinking about Aretha Franklin tonight & listening to her music that has been such an important part of our lives the last 50 years. We hope you’ll lift her up by listening and sharing her songs that have meant the most to you.
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 14, 2018
Franklin, who won 18 Grammy Awards and sold more than 75 million records over the course of her storied career, was 76. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon, the AP reported.
