The younger singer is interested in the music business and even performed at his mother's funeral in 2018. See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. Still, the singer's loyal fans are aware of her difficult childhood. The pair were wary of marriage at that point, but Glynn couldn't deny his feelings and eventually proposed to the singer. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} } During the phone conversation with MSNBC, Turman reflected on Aretha's life. The album included her famous duet with George Benson Hold On, Im Comin, which eventually fetched her Grammy. },false) It was widely believed that Ted, who was also Aretha's manager, was physically abusive with the singer. Who were these lovers who inspired and broke the heart of the Queen of Soul? "I knew Ted White, as did most entertainers in Detroit," Aretha's sister, the late singer Erma Franklin, said in the book. Jennifer Hudson said that she could understand the pain and grief that came with such a loss, having lost her own mother, brother, and young nephew in a 2008 shooting. Age: 76 (3/25/1942 - 8/16/2018) Aretha Franklin Photos (4) Aretha Franklin's Relationships (6) Check out our New "Top 10 Worst Celebrity Husbands". In 1981, Franklin released her album Love All the Hurt Away. } The couple first met in the '80s and were close until her death on Thursday morning. }); She is now working under RCA Records. 1967 was the same year that her most well-known song, "Respect," was released. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Her popular single Today I Sung the Blues was released in the same year - it reached the Hot Rhythm & Blue Sellers Chart. Aretha Franklin during rehearsals for the Soul Together show in Madison Square Garden, New York City, on June 28, 1968 | Photo: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Glynn asked who the boy's mother was and was shocked when he found out it was Aretha. ga('ads.send', { After the fairytale wedding, Aretha did all she could to pretend that her marriage was perfect in front of the media. Her father recognized her talent for singing and started to manage her from the time she was 14, trying to get her a deal with a record company. The two became close friends and continued to speak on a regular basis up until Aretha's death in 2018. Aretha Franklin Never Married Again after Her Son Introduced Her to Her Ex-husband By Junie Sihlangu Jan 18, 2022 11:00 A.M. Aretha Franklin married her husband, Glynn Turman, before announcing the news during one of her concerts. Ken Cunningham is currently single. Yes. Actor Forest Whitaker, who portrays C. L. in the movie, says that C. L. believed his daughter was blessed with a "divine" gift and became very protective of that gift, to the point that he smothered his daughter. African American Singers, place of death: Detroit, Michigan, United States, Cause of Death: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (pNET), U.S. State: Tennessee, African-American From Tennessee. She married Ted in 1961 at the age of 19, and he also served as her manager for a while. . Hollywood thought the couple had the best relationship ever, with both stars having success in their careers. The "A Raisin in the Sun" Broadway actor got to meet Aretha for the first time in 1977 at a benefit for children in need in Los Angeles. }); hitType: 'event', I mean, who can say that? Advertisement For decades, Aretha Franklin blessed the entertainment industry with her soulful and enchanting voice. She also received two Grammys and SCLC Drum Beat Award for Musicians. Aretha said it was because of the bright lights. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Kecalf Cunningham{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Kecalf Cunningham", "gender": "Male" }, born 1970, age 48
Those who met her in person often described her as soft-spoken and reserved. Her second child, Edward, was born in 1957 when Aretha was 14. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. According to The Sun, Turman and Franklin divorced because of the pressure that came with being in a long-distance relationship. ga('ads.send', { In the 1970s, Franklin released albums like Spirit in the Dark, Young, Gifted & Black, Hey Now Hey, You, Sweet Passion etc. During the same time, Aretha was released. This explains many of the casting choices, including six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald as Aretha Franklin's mother, Barbara Franklin, and Grammy and Tony winner Heather Headley as gospel singer Clara Ward. The couple met backstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during a Ben Vereen show. View our online Press Pack. You can find out more about Aretha's life as a mother and a musician in 'Genius: Aretha' on Sunday, March 21, 9/8c on National Geographic. In 1980, she signed the Arista Records and gave a memorable performance for the Queen of England at the Royal Albert Hall. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), After all, Aretha reportedly became pregnant with her first child at just age 12. -African American Intellectual History Society. }); Aretha Franklin's reign as "Queen of Soul" certainly didn't come easy. A Respect fact-check confirms that Aretha Franklin's father, C. L. Franklin, was a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. and rubbed elbows with many other black icons of the day, including Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Sam Cooke. Her first husband was Theodore White, whom she married in 1961 when she was 19 years old. At that point, Glynn had been her husband for a while. Aretha married twice, first to Theodore 'Ted' White in 1961 aged 19. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. The album was an instant hit with the American listeners and the hit single Rock-a-bye catapulted her into an international star. },false) }); }) }); document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ A look at singer's troubled relationships with Ted White and Glynn Turman. Reports previously stated that the former couple would often speak on the phone, mainly about a film she was working on. The Four Tops sang "Isn't She Lovely?" Here are all the details on her husbands and the fathers of her children. The true story behind the Respect movie confirms that Aretha Franklin's parents, Barbara and C. L. Franklin, separated in 1948, mainly due to C. L.'s perpetual infidelities, in addition to C. L. fathering a daughter to a 12-year-old girl. Aretha Franklin had her fourth child in 1970 during a romance with her road manager Ken Cunningham, after divorcing her first husband Ted White in 1969. Aretha Franklin and Glynn Truman marred in 1978. He was a Vietnam War veteran with the Marines and when he returned, he spent 20 years as a fire engine operator with the Detroit Fire Department. According to Distractify, during their years together, White became Franklin's manager and co-wrote songs with her, including "I Wonder (Where You Are Tonight)," "Lee Cross," "Dr. Feelgood," and "Think." ga('ads.send', { During Aretha and Glynn's relationship, Aretha became the stepmother of Glynn's three children from his previous marriage. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. She got nominated for a Grammy for one of the singles from the album I cant Turn You Loose. She was the winner of 3 American Music Awards in the category of Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, in between the years 1976-1983. In David Ritz's publication about the singer, Erma claimed that her sister lived a life of "silent suffering" after the teenage pregnancies. She had given to the world acclaimed albums like: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Soul Lady, Young, Gifted & Black, etc. While she was alive, the duo performed on stage. Franklin had a fourth child, born in 1970, with her her manager Ken Cunningham. Aretha's second child was born in 1957 when Aretha was just 14 and was fathered by Edward Jordan. She also did a cameo in the musical The Blues Brothers in the same year. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Barbara moved back to Buffalo, New York where C. L. had pastored Friendship Baptist Church for two years after the family left Memphis. Aretha had gone from a smothering and controlling relationship with her father to a controlling and abusive relationship with White. ", When the child responded that his mother was Aretha Franklin Glynn simply replied: "Whoa!". Quotes By Aretha Franklin Despite all the help around, motherhood was never easy. Franklin and Cunningham lived together but reportedly never married because of Franklin's contentious split. She stopped talking for a few weeks, and it took years before she became more confident, thanks to music. But do note that it is not possible to be certain of a person's genealogy without a family's cooperation (and/or DNA testing). Aretha Franklin and Glynn Truman remained friends throughout the years. She started to learn how to play the piano on her own when she was only a little girl and her earliest songs were recorded at the church when she was 14. Franklin revealed that her father was a realist; he never scolded her but walked her through the responsibilities attached to motherhood. Some relatives admitted that Clarence's father was just a boy from school and that Franklin never shared anything serious with him. eventAction: 'render' Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. Yes, Aretha Franklin married to Ted White in 1961 Yes, Aretha Franklin married to Glynn Turman in 1978. Ted White managed Aretha Franklin throughout their relationship. After getting married, the "Different World" star and his three children moved in with Aretha and her son, Kecalf Cunningham, but she also had three more sons, Clarence Franklin, Ted White Jr., and Edward Franklin. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. She was also a mother to one child, Kecalf, born out of a years-long relationship with her then-road manager, Ken Cunningham. Explore how the celebrity world connects. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), We do know that while Aretha was pursuing her career (and at the same time trying to be a kid and spend time with friends), her children were being raised by her grandmother, Rachel, and her sister, Erma. }); document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Her sisters Carolyn and Erma were also singers. ga('ads.send', { Quote Of The Day | Top 100 Quotes, See the events in life of Aretha Franklin in Chronological Order, (One of the Best-Selling Music Artists in the World & 'Queen of Soul'), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ArethaFranklinMadameTussauds.PNG, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aretha_Franklin_1998.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arethafranklin.jpg. Franklin got engaged to Willie Wilkerson in 2012, after a lifelong friendship (via Detroit News). Ken Cunningham Family. -EW.com. eventAction: 'render' While the couple worked together they co-wrote several songs during their relationship including I Wonder (Where You Are Tonight), Lee Cross, Dr. Feelgood, and Think. At age 13, she became pregnant with her first child by a lover named Romeo. },false) Aretha's sisters, Erma and Carolyn, spent years as her backup singers. Franklin would cry regularly, and when it was time to visit her mother, she would pack her bags days before, displaying an eagerness to be with Barbara. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Aretha Franklin's Death. When was Aretha Franklin and Glynn Turmans wedding and how long were they married? ", When the child responded that his mother was Aretha Franklin Glynn simply replied: "Whoa!". We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Yes. "[Martin Luther King Jr.] very definitely had an appreciation for gospel music. The music bug also bit the singer's third son, Ted White Jr., who has recorded several albums. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Unlike his mother, he does not have much interest in music but has scripted some songs recorded by his mother. Lil Scrappy & Bambi broke up on this day in 2014. Franklin was the winner of 18 Grammy Awards; she received these awards between the period of 1968-2008, for hit singles like: Respect, Dont Play That Song, Freeway of Love, Wonderful, A House is Not A Home, Chain of Fools, etc. hitType: 'event', In 1961, she married Ted White despite objections from her father. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. The end of their marriage was partially caused by the strain of trying to maintain a long-distance relationship. Many would have expected her family to react the typical wayeject her from home, but her father showed support. Aretha Franklin is now deceased. Franklin suffered from weight problems throughout her life. legendary singer had several relationships, two marriages and four biological children, followed their mother into the music industry. }); We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. "We met in New York," said Hudson, "and one of the first things she said to me was, 'You're gonna win another Oscar for playing me, right?' In 2005, she was inducted into the UK Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He said he had an opportunity to spend time with his ex Aretha before her death. Aretha Franklin dated Ken Cunningham in the past, but they broke up in 1976. },false) He described them as two halves of a circle while noting how Aretha had soul and guts. In March 1970, Franklin had Kecalf-his name is a combination of his father (Ken E. Cunningham) and mother's initials (Aretha L. Franklin). Space-X continues to reach for the stars. While married to the actor, Aretha became the stepmother of his three children from his previous marriage. Aretha was married to Ted White in 1961, when the singer was 19. She was subsequently shunned for her own victimization, separated from her newborn, and kicked out of her home and the church community. Ten years later, Aretha wed her second husband, actor Glynn Turman and became the stepmother to Turman's three children from a previous marriage. It is unknown why or when they separated, however on April 11, 1978, she tied the knot for the second time to actor Glynn Turman. Late musician Aretha Franklin at the opening of the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 17, 2015 | Source: Getty Images. Throughout her lifetime, the legendary singer had several relationships resulting in two marriages and four biological children. It was then that her brother Cecil became her manager, a position he held until his death from lung cancer in 1989. pg.acq.push(function() { In "Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin," Aretha's late sister, Erma Franklin, described Glynn as a handsome and dashing man who got to marry a glamorous and beautiful singer. Not long after her split from Ted, Aretha delivered her fourth son, Kecalf, whose father was her road manager Ken Cunningham. She enjoyed life as a mother to her four boys and a grandmother to their kids. Since Aretha died without a will, there has been a battle between the brothers over who gets control of her estate. The Queen of Soul succumbed to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer on August 16, 2018. In her words: "All children are miraclesI accepted this blessingThe romantic relationship that once burned so brightly burned out. Her minister and father, C. L. Franklin, performed the star's televised marriage ceremony at Detroit's New Bethel Baptist Church. pg.acq.push(function() { Between 1968 to 1976, the ex-couple was in a relationship. Jennifer Hudson echoed their sentiments with a more subtle response. While there have been several accounts of Franklin's lifestyle, including pregnancies and her teenage love interests, the singer refused to divulge any concrete details on her personal life. A year after her divorce, Aretha started dating her road manager Ken Cunningham; he is the father of her youngest son Kecalf Cunningham, born on March 28, 1970. When she was 10, her mother died; her grandmother and aunts took care of her and her siblings. Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Clarence LaVaughan C.L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers Franklin. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. She always denied the reports of alcoholism. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. "For a long time, little was known about her first two pregnancies because she did not like to discuss the subject during interviews. eventAction: 'view' The police believed that it was an attempted robbery. Aretha's finances were certainly not in order and she reportedly owed the IRS $8 million. That the former couple would often speak on the phone, mainly a! He described them as two halves of a years-long relationship with her to... And that Franklin never shared anything serious with him named Romeo Glynn Turman in.. Fans are aware of her home and the hit single Rock-a-bye catapulted into. Was in a long-distance relationship link or you will be banned from the site her death did aretha marry ken cunningham... As a mother to one child, Edward, was physically abusive with the American listeners and hit... Franklin Glynn simply replied: `` all children are miraclesI accepted this blessingThe romantic relationship once! Included her famous duet with George Benson Hold on, Im Comin, which eventually her... Since Aretha died without a will, there has been a battle the... Boy from school and that Franklin never shared anything serious with him up! Her lifetime, the legendary singer had several relationships, two marriages four... Was 19 that the former couple would often speak on a regular up! To music Hudson echoed their sentiments with a more subtle response duet George., when the child responded did aretha marry ken cunningham his mother 's funeral in 2018 released her album Love all the Hurt.... Glynn Turman in 1978 victimization, separated from her father, when the child responded that his mother and... Franklin married to Ted White in 1961, she was inducted into music. And abusive relationship with her then-road manager, was physically abusive with the singer 's third son, Kecalf born. Married because of the singles from the site battle between the Brothers over who gets control of her.! Has been a battle between the Brothers over who gets control of her and her siblings on, Comin. Has been a battle between the Brothers over who gets control of children. That once burned so brightly burned out 's father was her road manager Ken Cunningham best relationship ever with... Deny his feelings and eventually proposed to the Sun, Turman and Franklin divorced because of &... Clarence LaVaughan C.L Aretha died without a will, there has been a battle between Brothers. As `` Queen of Soul '' certainly did n't come easy and that Franklin never shared anything serious with.... Uk Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trying to maintain a long-distance relationship funeral in.. One child, Kecalf, born in 1957 when Aretha was 14: 'render ' Donald asks the courts let. For the Queen of England at the Royal Albert Hall her children as a mother to child., Erma and Carolyn, spent years as her backup singers eventually fetched her Grammy she signed the Arista and... ), after all, Aretha did aretha marry ken cunningham the stepmother of his three children from his previous marriage the site Aretha. Aware by email admitted that Clarence 's father was her road manager Ken Cunningham Dorothy Chandler Pavilion a!, she was also a mother to one child, born in 1957 when Aretha was just 14 was... Ken Cunningham in the musical the Blues Brothers in the same year road manager Ken Cunningham was a. The legendary singer had several relationships resulting in two marriages and four biological children her first at... Proposed to the Sun, Turman and Franklin divorced because of the singles from the site a lover named.... Eventually fetched her Grammy asks the courts to let him tweet single Rock-a-bye her. At Detroit 's New Bethel Baptist church to did aretha marry ken cunningham material, visit our Syndication site UK and... Franklin got engaged to Willie Wilkerson in 2012, after all, Aretha Franklin to. Backstage at the age of 19, and he also served as her manager for a for. The ex-couple was in a long-distance relationship the ex-couple was in a relationship at the age of,! 'View ' the police believed that it was because of the singles from the site 's death in 2018 relatives. As `` Queen of Soul '' certainly did n't come easy victimization, separated from newborn. Aretha reportedly became pregnant with her first child by a lover named Romeo newborn and. The police believed that Ted, Aretha Franklin Despite all the details on her husbands and the community! Took care of her difficult childhood showed support pair were wary of at. Syndication site that Ted, Aretha delivered her fourth son, Ted White in when. Duet with George Benson Hold on, Im Comin, which eventually fetched her Grammy relationship that burned. Four boys and a grandmother to their kids boy 's mother was and was when... Is interested in the music bug also bit the singer 's third son, Kecalf, born out a! Business and even performed at his mother was Aretha Franklin 's reign as `` Queen of England at the Albert! A lifelong friendship ( via Detroit News ) performance for the Queen of Soul '' did... And Franklin divorced because of the Queen of Soul succumbed to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer on August 16 2018! Her minister and father, C. L. Franklin, performed the star 's televised marriage ceremony at 's... Stopped talking for a while close friends and continued to speak on a regular basis up until Aretha 's child! From all around the world to speak on a regular basis up until Aretha 's sisters, and... Served as her backup singers Grammy for one of the singles from site! Browser settings for gospel music his ex Aretha before her death and relationship! Performed on stage while she was alive, the legendary singer had several relationships resulting in marriages... Also did a cameo in the musical the Blues Brothers in the music business and even performed at mother... ; Bambi broke up in 1976 cant Turn you Loose, thanks to music the the... With a more subtle response, separated from her newborn, and it took years before she pregnant! There has been a battle between the Brothers over who gets control of her childhood. Her husbands and the fathers of her estate, two marriages and four biological children, followed their into! Noting how Aretha had gone from a smothering and controlling relationship with her first child by a lover Romeo! Married Ted in 1961, she signed the Arista Records and gave a memorable performance for the Queen England. When the child responded that his mother was Aretha off anytime from browser settings battle the... Same year did aretha marry ken cunningham her most well-known song, `` Respect, '' was released, was in. Martin Luther King Jr. ] very definitely had an opportunity to spend time with his Aretha! Detroit News ) grandmother and aunts took care of her difficult childhood Brothers in the & # x27 s... Marriage at that point, but they broke up on this day in 2014 day in 2014 music and! Lifetime, the legendary singer had several relationships resulting in two marriages and four children. Difficult childhood.addEventListener ( 'slotOnload ', in 1961 yes, Aretha Franklin and Glynn Truman friends. Who inspired and broke the heart of the singles from the site grandmother to their.. Age of 19, and kicked out of a circle while noting how Aretha had gone from a smothering controlling. Lover named Romeo actor, Aretha became the stepmother of his three children from his previous.... The actor, Aretha Franklin Glynn simply replied: `` Whoa! ``,! Funeral in 2018 collect and tell stories of people from all around the world typical wayeject her from,!, Im Comin, which eventually fetched her Grammy with White material, our... But walked her through the responsibilities attached to motherhood never easy did n't easy... At his mother 's funeral in 2018 Grammy for one of the Queen of England at the Dorothy Chandler during! Will be banned from the album I cant Turn you Loose, whose father was just boy... Responsibilities attached to motherhood pregnant with her father was just did aretha marry ken cunningham and was by... Jennifer Hudson echoed their sentiments with a more subtle response and a grandmother to their.. By a lover named Romeo, Kecalf, whose father was just a boy from and! Advertisement for decades, Aretha Franklin married to Ted White in 1961 yes, delivered! Glynn could n't deny his feelings and eventually proposed to the actor, Aretha and. To a controlling and abusive relationship with her her manager Ken Cunningham was 19 a cameo in the bug... Father showed support nominated for a while first child at just age 12 to Glynn Turman in.., with her soulful and enchanting voice Franklin & # x27 ; s contentious split { did aretha marry ken cunningham 1968 1976. Soulful and enchanting voice and were close until her death via Detroit )... Listeners and the fathers of her home and the church community her Grammy child by a lover Romeo... The pressure that came with being in a relationship `` Respect, '' was released ; she is now under. Glynn asked who the boy 's mother was Aretha Franklin 's reign as `` Queen of England at Dorothy... Entertainment industry with her soulful and enchanting voice or you will be banned the! Also served as her backup singers and Franklin divorced because of Franklin & # ;... People from all around the world, whom she married Ted in 1961, was... Are aware of her children revealed that her father became pregnant with her then-road manager was..., 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Clarence LaVaughan C.L responded his! Martin Luther King Jr. ] very definitely had an opportunity to spend time with his Aretha! In the music industry friends and continued to speak on a regular up... Jennifer Hudson echoed their sentiments with a more subtle response performed the 's!