Aretha Franklin

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Aretha Franklin's discography documents the releases of albums and singles by the artist. Her career began with the JVB era (1956–1959), where singles like "Never Grow Old" were reissued by Checker Records in 1957, 1968, and 1973, and "Precious Lord (Part 1)" was reissued in 1960 and 1969. She then moved into the Columbia era (1960–1966), followed by the Atlantic era (1967–1979), the Arista era (1980–2007), and her final years (2008–2018). Her catalog includes studio albums, live albums, soundtrack albums, and compilation albums. The source notes that *Amazing Grace* is the biggest-selling live gospel album of all time, certified 2× Platinum in the US. Franklin's commercial success is underscored by her 75 million records sold worldwide and her 16.5 million albums and singles sold in the US according to RIAA certifications. Her chart achievements include 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, 20 No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and 88 total chart hits during the rock era (1955–2012), the most among female vocalists. She also spent 995 cumulative weeks on the Billboard 200, making her the seventh most successful female artist on that chart.

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide a specific narrative story about Aretha Franklin. It focuses on her discography, sales figures, and chart records. The information available is strictly statistical and factual, detailing her releases across different eras (JVB, Columbia, Atlantic, Arista, final years) and her rankings and certifications.

Reader's Guide

For fans exploring Aretha Franklin's work, the source provides a clear roadmap through her recording eras: the JVB era (1956–1959), the Columbia era (1960–1966), the Atlantic era (1967–1979), the Arista era (1980–2007), and her final years (2008–2018). Key numbers to know: she sold more than 75 million records worldwide, scored 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned 20 No. 1 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Her album *Amazing Grace* is a landmark, certified 2× Platinum in the US as the biggest-selling live gospel album of all time. She is ranked by Billboard as the 34th Greatest Artist of all time and the 41st Top Gospel Artist of the 2010s. According to Joel Whitburn's Record Research, she holds the record for the most Billboard chart hits among female vocalists during the rock era (1955–2012) with 88 hits. Her 995 cumulative weeks on the Billboard 200 place her seventh among female artists. The source does not cover her relationship with Whitney Houston or any personal friendships.

Did You Know?

• Aretha Franklin has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling R&B female artists of all time.
• She scored 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the most among women for nearly 50 years until Nicki Minaj passed her in 2017.
• Her album *Amazing Grace* is the biggest-selling live gospel album of all time, certified 2× Platinum in the US.
• According to Joel Whitburn's Record Research, she is ranked first among female vocalists with the most Billboard chart hits during the rock era (1955–2012) with a total of 88.
• Franklin has accumulated 20 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.