DETROIT -- A publicist for Aretha Franklin said the Queen of Soul died on Thursday at her home in Detroit.

Franklin, who was 76, was widely known as the Queen of Soul, but her vocal range and ability led Rolling Stone magazine to crown her as the greatest singer of the rock era. Her death marks the end of an amazing musical journey that spanned more than a half century.

Born in Memphis in 1942, Aretha Louise Franklin's heart and soul belonged to Detroit, where she grew up. She sang and played the piano in her dad's church, but by the time she entered her late teens, she hopped aboard the rhythm and blues express train to stardom.

After some success from 1961-66, Franklin joined Atlantic records in 1967 and released the hit single "I Never Loved a Man," which rocketed to the top of the pop and R&B charts and made her a household name. Her second single with Atlantic became her signature tune.

“Respect” was originally recorded by Otis Redding, but Franklin made it all her own and the song earned her first in a string of Grammy awards. Even as she was hailed as an R&B superstar, Franklin never forgot her gospel roots.

In 1972, she released “Amazing Grace” and it rocked the music world, selling more than two million albums and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time.

In the mid '70s Franklin was still revered, but she struggled to find her footing in a culture that was suddenly overtaken by disco. However, a cameo appearance in the monster hit movie "The Blues Brothers" helped launch a comeback in 1980 and the songbird returned to the top ten with "Jump."

She was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the most honored singers of her time. The Presidential Medal of Freedom winner collected 18 Grammys along with two honorary Grammys.

What was perhaps the honor of the lifetime for the Democrat occurred during the inauguration of the nation's first black president, Barack Obama. Franklin was the only featured singer during Obama's swearing-in ceremony.

Aretha Franklin demanded respect and she got it.