Celebrities Flood Social Media With Aretha Franklin Tributes

Stephen Andrew

08/16/2018 02:37 pm EDT

Aretha Franklin passed away on Thursday, and many of her celebrity friends and fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to "The Queen of Soul."

Franklin was hospitalized earlier in the week, over reports that she was "gravely ill." She was eventually cleared by doctors to return home where she spent the rest of her time with family and loved ones.

Some of her lifelong celebrity friends stopped by to visit with her during her time in hospice care, such as the equally iconic Stevie Wonder.

Those who could not be by her bedside have shared messages of sympathy on social media, which you can read below.

Scroll down to see the memorials, and please consider leaving us a comment with your favorite Aretha Franklin memory.

Paul McCartney

The legendary Paul McCartney shared a tribute to Franklin, encouraging all his followers to "take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years."

"She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever," he added.

Britney Spears

Pop music princess Britney Spears also commented on Franklin's passing, tweeting out a thoughtful message about the singer.

"The world lost an incredibly talented woman today. Rest In Peace, [Aretha Franklin]," she wrote, adding, "your legacy and music will forever inspire us and future generations."

Barbra Streisand

(Photo: Barbra Streisand / Instagram)

Barbra Streisand took to Instagram to pay tribute to Franklin, reminiscing on a time the two performed at the same event.

"This photo was taken in 2012 when Aretha and I performed at a tribute celebration for our friend Marvin Hamlisch," the singer recalled.

"It's difficult to conceive of a world without her," Streisand added. "Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world."

Willie Nelson

Country music legend Willie Nelson took to social media to memorialize Franklin, praising her for all that she accomplished in life.

"Whether it was Gospel, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Pop,or Civil Rights, Aretha Franklin was the greatest gift and the voice of a generation," he wrote. "She could turn any song into a hymn."

"She will be greatly missed here on earth, but that band in heaven just got our Angel," Nelson added.

John Legend

Modern R&B singer John Legend sent out a "salute to the Queen," calling Franklin "the greatest vocalist I've ever known."

He also shared a message on Instagram, where he added that she was "the greatest singer of all time."

"We were blessed to have her walk this earth for 76 years," legend continued. "So grateful for the gift of Aretha Franklin."

Carole King

Carole King, who is often cited as the most successful female songwriter of all-time, shared a tribute to Franklin on Twitter.

"What a life. What a legacy! So much love, respect and gratitude," King wrote.

Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen took to Twitter to praise Franklin, saying that "there will never be another Queen of Soul."

"Aretha Franklin is the embodiment of a soul blessed with a special gift. Grateful we have decades of recordings that will live on," he added. "Long Live The Queen."

Quincy Jones

Franklin's good friend and musical peer Quincy Jones has also shared a message of honor about the singer following her death.

"From the time that Dinah Washington 1st told me that Aretha was the "next one" when she was 12-years old, until the present day, Aretha Franklin set the bar & she did it with the professionalism, class, grace, & humility that only a true Queen could," Jones wrote.

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