Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5 — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018

Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts — Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018

So much talent, so much music. It was a gift to work with her. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. #riparethafranklin https://t.co/2lHK1IjvYI pic.twitter.com/7YniUThSTJ — shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) August 16, 2018

DETROIT -- Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul who sold tens of millions of R&B and pop albums with iconic hits like "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," has died. She was 76.She died Thursday morning of pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, according to a statement from her publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn.Her family released the following statement:Franklin had been struggling with health problems in recent years. Earlier in the week it was confirmed that she was seriously ill and was surrounded by friends and family in her Detroit home.The legendary vocalist was perhaps best known for "Respect" - the Otis Redding cover that her powerful voice transformed into a bold anthem and demand for dignity adopted by the feminist movement in the 1970s.She also had a string of 20 No. 1 R&B singles, stretching from 1967 to 1985. Those iconic tunes helped earn her 18 Grammy Awards and consistently placed her on most critics' lists of the greatest singers of all time.In 1987, Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.She performed at the inaugurations of three presidents - Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.President George W. Bush presented Franklin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.Last year, the icon announced her plans to retire, saying she would perform at "some select things."One of those select events was a gala for Elton John's 25th anniversary of his AIDS foundation in November in New York City, where Franklin closed the event with a collection of songs including "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Freeway."Franklin canceled planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up. She was originally scheduled to perform on her 76th birthday in March in Newark, New Jersey, and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April.As news of her death was learned, everyone from world leaders to Hollywood icons to fellow music industry legends reflected on her life and legacy