What is the title of Aretha Franklin's 1999 autobiography?

The title of Aretha Franklin’s 1999 autobiography is Aretha: From These Roots. She wrote the book with music journalist and author David Ritz, and it was published by Villard Books, a division of Random House.

The autobiography traces Franklin’s life from her childhood in Memphis and Detroit through her gospel upbringing, recording career, family life, and rise to international fame. Its title points to the roots that shaped her artistry: the Black Baptist church, gospel singing, piano playing, and the musical community surrounding her father, C. L. Franklin.

Those roots were especially important to Franklin’s transformation into the “Queen of Soul.” Her music combined church-bred vocal power with secular rhythm and blues, producing landmark recordings such as “Respect,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The book also reflects her relationships with major gospel performers and musicians who influenced her early development.

The title can be confused with informal descriptions such as “The Queen of Soul,” but that phrase is a nickname, not the autobiography’s name. Aretha: From These Roots is Franklin’s published memoir and remains the canonical answer to this question.