Apple CEO Tim Cook’s tweet mourning the death of soul singer Aretha Franklin was among countless remembrances flooding social media this morning after news of her passing began to spread.
Cook’s heartfelt message included a black-and-white photo of the Queen of Soul belting out a song during a recording session.
“Her voice will keep lifting us, through the music she gave the world,” Cook wrote on Twitter. “Take her hand, precious Lord, and lead her home.”
Franklin died of the same type of pancreatic cancer that killed Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
Give Aretha the respect she deserves
Raised in Detroit, Franklin, who was 76, sold more than 75 million records and won 18 Grammy Awards. She started singing gospel music, but also loved pop and jazz.
Three of her songs were trending this morning in the top 100 on Apple Music, according to the website I Do iPod.
“Respect,” an Otis Redding song that Franklin took to the top of the R&B and pop charts in 1967, was at No. 58 on iTunes at 9 a.m. Central today. Her other smash hits climbed the iTunes charts after her death as well. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” rose to 90, while “I Say a Little Prayer” hit 100.
