Which singer is known as the "Queen of Soul"?

The singer known as the “Queen of Soul” is Aretha Franklin.

Aretha Franklin developed her powerful voice through gospel music at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father, minister C. L. Franklin, preached. She signed with Columbia Records at 18, but her career reached a major turning point after she joined Atlantic Records in 1966. There she recorded defining albums including I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Lady Soul, and Aretha Now.

The nickname became especially associated with Franklin after radio personality Pervis Spann ceremonially crowned her during a 1960s performance at Chicago’s Regal Theater. Her signature recordings include “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

Franklin was also a pianist, songwriter, and civil-rights figure. Although other singers have received royal nicknames, “Queen of Soul” is specifically and overwhelmingly associated with Aretha Franklin.