Respect & Royalty: How Aretha Franklin Continues to Inspire Detroit Creatives Like Me
Detroit doesn’t just make cars — it makes legends. And when we talk about legends, the first voice that rises above the noise is Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, a woman whose voice didn’t just fill concert halls — it shook the world.
Born in Memphis but raised right here in Detroit, Aretha grew up surrounded by gospel, spirit, and community. Her childhood home wasn’t just a place of rest — it was a sanctuary for music, activism, and Black excellence. From church pews to global stages, she carried the soul of our city in every note she sang.
A Record of Greatness
Aretha’s accomplishments are the kind that can’t be contained in bullet points, but they demand acknowledgment:
18 Grammy Awards
First woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987)
More than 75 million records sold worldwide
The iconic national anthem performance at the 2016 Lions game — with that fur coat moment Detroit will never forget
Timeless classics like Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, Natural Woman, and I Say a Little Prayer
She didn’t just sing songs — she owned them. She transformed lyrics into testimonies, melodies into movements. Her voice was strength wrapped in velvet, conviction laced with vulnerability.
A Detroit Spirit
As an artist in Detroit myself, I feel her presence in this city like a heartbeat. When I walk through the streets, hit a creative block, or wonder if my work is big enough to matter — Aretha whispers back through the speakers:
"You can do this. Speak your truth. Stand tall. Demand respect."
Detroit artists know struggle. We know hustle. We know the beauty of building something from grit and heart. Aretha embodied that — not just through her music, but through her activism, her philanthropy, and her refusal to let the world define her.
Why She Still Inspires Me Today
Aretha’s legacy reminds me:
Excellence isn’t handed to you — you work for it.
Your voice is your power — use it boldly.
Creativity rooted in authenticity lasts forever.
You can start local and become global, without ever losing home.
When I create — whether writing a novel, developing a new book cover, or crafting a story rooted in soul, faith, or Detroit’s pulse — I remember Aretha. Her music pushes me to aim higher. Her legacy reminds me that Detroit artists are built differently — forged in rhythm, resilience, and revelation.
The Queen’s Crown Remains Untouched
Long after “Respect” first shook the airwaves, Aretha Franklin continues to shape us — musicians, writers, painters, dreamers. She is proof that greatness can come from your block, your church, your grind.
In Detroit, we don’t just listen to Aretha — we live her.
And as I keep creating, step by step, project by project, I hope my work can echo even a fraction of her fire.
