How many sons did Aretha Franklin have?

Aretha Franklin had four sons. Her children were Clarence, Edward, Ted White Jr., and Kecalf Franklin. The first two were born while Franklin was still a teenager, before her recording career made her an international star.

Franklin gave birth to her first son, Clarence, in January 1955, when she was 12. She had her second son, Edward, in 1957, at age 15. Her third son, Ted White Jr., was born in 1964, and her fourth, Kecalf, was born in 1970. Franklin's early motherhood was an important but often underemphasized part of the biography of a performer who rose to fame while still very young.

The number can be confused because Franklin's extended family was large and musically prominent. She also had siblings, including singers Erma and Carolyn Franklin, but they were not her children. Another source of confusion is that details about the fathers of her children have been discussed differently over time, while the total number of sons remains four. Franklin's sons later became involved in music, business, and management connected with her legacy.