6 Valuable Lessons from the Life and Tragedies of Aretha Franklin - by Sarifa Alonto Younes

Aretha Franklin enjoyed tremendous success because of her powerful and soulful music. But many don’t know that behind her achievements were tragic experiences.

When the term ‘Queen of Soul’ is mentioned, Aretha Franklin will come to mind. She’s known to have a powerful voice and her songs were riveting. As a result, she’s won several awards and accolades. 

What most people aren’t aware of are her tragic experiences. 

You see, Aretha had a tough childhood. Her parents separated when she was six and her mother died a few years later. She also suffered sexual abuse when she was just 10 years old and gave birth to her first child at 12 years old. 

After that, she dropped out of school and joined her father on musical tours. Being a girl on the cusp of adulthood, she was vulnerable to the atmosphere in such tours. That was why a year later, she got pregnant again and had another baby. 

Aretha’s first marriage wasn’t a bed of roses either. She was physically abused by her husband on many occasions, sometimes in public. Unfortunately, she looked to alcohol for comfort. She became an alcoholic and battled with it for many years. 

But despite these hardships, Aretha enjoyed a successful career.

She never allowed her situation to define her. That’s why even after her death, she’s remembered for her soulful songs and achievements in music. 

Here are 6 lessons to learn from her life. 

The 6 Lessons

Lesson #1 - Leverage Life’s Tests Into Strength

Aretha is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and stage performer. But do you know where she drew the inspiration and strength for her achievements? 

Her life tragedies. 

Aretha fought her childhood and teenage traumas by finding strength in singing. And the pain of having an abusive partner pushed her to pursue a recording career. They’d have a violent fight and she’d soon go on stage and deliver a stunning performance. Aretha also drew inspiration from her experiences and based some of her songs on them. 

It’s easy to give up on any venture when things get difficult. But you have to rise above your pain and make the best of it. 

Instead of becoming consumed with pain, draw strength from your experiences and let them propel you to victory. 

Lesson #2 - Use Your Voice

Your voice belongs to you and no one else. It’s your identity and you have the freedom to use it however you wish.

Aretha understood this well. That’s why her song R-E-S-P-E-C-T has become a song of inspiration, especially to women. 

She also used her voice to speak out against all forms of injustice and advocate for human rights. In fact, she was a catalyst in facilitating the civil rights movement of her time. Aretha was constantly committed to eradicating discrimination.

You should also use your voice to stand up against any oppression. 

Don’t keep quiet when you’re marginalized. Refuse to be vulnerable to ills perpetrated by dominant groups.

Being bold and assertive with your voice sends a message to others that you’re strong and should not be messed with. As a result, nobody would want to stand in your way of success. 

Lesson #3 - Ask For Your Money Upfront

At a time when singers oftentimes weren’t paid after performing, Aretha always got paid - or at least most of the time

Why? 

Aretha always asked for her money upfront. In fact, her contracts stated clearly that she wouldn’t perform if she didn’t get paid first. 

Aretha was able to command this respect because knew her worth. She also wasn’t afraid to demand her due. 

When you value yourself and are bold and clear about your demands, you won’t be skimped of your money. And if someone refuses to work with you because of that, it’ll be their loss, not yours. 

Lesson #4 - Don’t Lose Your Passion

By the time she was a teenager, Aretha knew she had a rare musical talent. And nothing brought her more joy than performing before an audience.

Since then, she never wavered in her desire to be a successful singer.

That passion kept her going despite her traumatic experiences. She didn't relent until she achieved her dream of becoming an accomplished singer.

When your goal is connected to something you’re passionate about, there’s a high chance that you’ll achieve it. After all, your passion strengthens you. It gives you a positive mindset and keeps you going when others think you’re done for.

Lesson #5 - Your Environment Plays a Big Part In Your Success

You could be driven, passionate, and talented. But if you’re in the wrong environment, achieving success might be hard.

This happened to Aretha early in her career. 

Her first producer shoehorned her into a genre he thought was best for her, dictating how her songs should go. But it limited her creative freedom, slowed the discovery of her style, and hid her true potential. 

That’s why despite working with top songwriters and producers for 9 years, Aretha couldn’t really succeed. And after six albums, she parted ways with the record label and even had to pay them money because of her low sales. 

Things changed when she signed with Atlantic Records with Jerry Wexler as producer. He dictated less and did more nurturing. Her first album with them achieved so much commercial success and she hit her peak period with them. 

The lesson from this is clear:

Your environment plays a big part in your success. If you’re in the wrong place or surrounded by the wrong people, achieving success may be hard. 

Lesson #6 - Hang on For The Long Haul

Aretha’s music career kicked off early, but it took her many years to find fame and fortune. 

She performed passionately in sparsely populated nightclubs and half-empty venues. And she released records that didn’t measure up to expectations. 

But Aretha didn’t give up. And as we know, it massively paid off.

Being patient while working hard is the most challenging aspect of achieving success. It may take years for you to achieve your goals. But if you persevere, work hard, and keep at it, you’ll be successful. 

As they say, the patient dog usually gets the fattest bone. 

Achieve True Success Irrespective of Your Tragedies

Aretha Franklin is not a woman who was born with a silver spoon. Her life was filled with all sorts of trauma, right from when she was a child. 

But despite these hardships, she triumphed. She leveraged her tough situations to draw strength and inspiration for her songs. And she didn’t allow anyone to suppress her voice. 

That’s why she was an extremely successful artist who is respected all over the world. 

When you look beyond your hardships and refuse to let your tragedies determine your fate, your success is all but sealed. 

If you want to learn more about imbibing these lessons from the Queen of Soul into your life, feel free to book my speaking services at your next event.