Given her stature in the culture, it's easy to forget how many boundaries Aretha Franklin broke—and gaps she bridged—to get where she got. By the time “Respect” was released in the spring 1967, Franklin had already powered through several hit singles, ten albums and one record deal. She imbued her gospel past into R&B's present, redefining the role of women—particularly black women—in pop music. As the decades passed and styles like hip-hop emerged, Franklin remained a singular performer, balancing the visceral power of her singing with an elegance and grace that was, at times, ethereal.