Aretha Franklin Passes Away: Nas, Barack Obama, John Legend, & More React

The Queen of Soul is on her way home. Aretha Franklin passed away today at age 76. The pop icon has accomplished legendary goals during her time as a performer, including singing at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, being the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and performing at the inaugurations of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Franklin was rumored to have been battling with pancreatic cancer for years, but she denied the claims. Still, her health had been declining since 2011 when news of her sickness hit the web. Franklin chose to remain on tour until last year, when she decided to retire from the road. Although she did claim she was done touring, Franklin still performed at smaller and more intimate venues. Her last performance was in November at Elton John's AIDS Foundation event.

As news of Franklin's passing began to circulate online, several prominent stars in the entertainment industry took to social media to pay their respects. John Legend, Missy Elliot, Nas, Quincy Jones, Ciara, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Gucci Mane, Paul McCartney, Chance the Rapper, Celine Dion, Barack Obama, and Kelly Clarkson are just a few of the names that offered their love, support, and condolences.

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