One of the highest profile casualties of 2018 on the global stage was Aretha Franklin. She was the Queen of Soul, and everybody from Chicago to Calcutta knew her name. A popular choice for Presidential inaugurations, Franklin performed at ceremonies for Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Known for timeless classics like "R.E.S.P.E.C.T", and "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman", Franklin's incredibly powerful voice was her trademark, and it endured throughout the years. One of the most decorated performers in the history of music, her final prize tally includes eighteen Grammy Awards and three American Music Awards. A first ballot contender for any musical hall of fame, Franklin fell ill in August of this year, and eventually passed away at the age of 76. We'll still be singing her songs many years from now.