Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul announces her retirement!

Aretha Franklin just announced she plans to "retire" this year after the release of her new album.

Franklin spent 56 years as a legendary singer and songwriter. "This will be my last year," Franklin said. "I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it."

She's not retiring completely. She said she will do "some select things, many one a month, for six months out of the year." But she said her grandchildren are leaving for college and she wants to spend time with them.

Franklin said the announcement is bittersweet because "it's what I've done all of my life."

She said all the songs on the new album will be originals.

In the meantime, enjoy one of our FAVORITE Aretha performances! 2015 at the Kennedy Center for the Arts:


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