"Aretha Franklin began life as the golden daughter of a progressive and promiscuous Baptist preacher. Raised without her mother, she was a gospel prodigy who gave birth to two sons in her teens and left them and her native Detroit for New York, where she struggled to find her true voice. She found fame, fortune, and that remarkable voice in 1967 with "Respect" and a rapid-fire string of hits. Aretha turned the industry on its head by refueling pop with heavy soul. The Queen of Soul had survived, and arrived."--Dust jacket.

First published: 2014.

Meeting the Queen -- Sacred sources. Father and daughter ; Instability ; Mothers and fathers ; The sex circus ; The blood ; Moving on up -- Columbia. The biggest and best ; Gentleman pimp ; Water, water everywhere ; What a difference a day makes ; Fools -- Atlantic. Never loved ; Keep rolling ; Natural ; Year of years ; High maintenance ; Spirit ; Right reverend ; Amazing ; Hey ; Shop around ; The spark ; Fairy-tale princess ; The hustle -- Arista. Daddy's little girl ; Back on track ; Home ; Our father ; Diva-fication ; In the storm too long ; The mixture as before ; Party therapy ; A rose ; Vinceráo ; Damage control -- The lioness in winter. What Aretha wants ; Oldies but goodies ; A woman falling out of love ; The once and future Queen.