A handwritten will found stuffed beneath a sofa cushion in Aretha Franklin’s Detroit home will be examined by a handwriting expert to prove its validity.
Franklin’s family had claimed when she died last year that the soul legend did not leave behind a will, but lawyers for her estate revealed in May that three wills have been unearthed since then.
1/50 1968
Aretha Franklin was born in 1942 and went on to earn the title ‘The Queen of Soul’ for her services to music since the late 60s
Getty
2/50 1968
Aretha Franklin performs onstage in 1968
Getty
3/50 1969
Aretha Franklin on the Andy Williams Show
NBC/Getty
4/50 1967
She signed to Atlantic Records in 1967
Rex
5/50 1968
Franklin achieved huge success with songs including “Spanish Harlem”, “I Say a Little Prayer” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Getty
6/50 1974
She first sang as part of a gospel at a Detroit church where her father, C.L, was the pastor before embarking upon a full-time career in 1960
Rex
7/50 1977
Portrait of American soul singer Aretha Franklin
Getty
8/50 1977
She won 18 Grammys
Rex
9/50 1980
Aretha Franklin has sold over 75m records worldwide
Getty
10/50 1981
George Benson and Aretha Franklin at the Greek Theatre
Rex
11/50 1986
Aretha Franklin Showtime TV Special. In 1987, Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rex
12/50 1992
American music executive Clive Davis and Aretha Franklin attend an event together
Getty
13/50 1993
Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross perform at the Inaugural Gala for President Bill Clinton
Rex Features
14/50 1994
US actor Kirk Douglas applauds singer Aretha Franklin at a reception for the Kennedy Center Honors, which recognised American performance artists who have made lifetime contributions to American culture
AFP/Getty
15/50 1997
Aretha Franklin singing during the inaugural gala dedicated to US President Bill Clinton in Landover
AFP/Getty Images
16/50 1998
Aretha Franklin had a cameo appearance in cult classic ‘The Blues Brothers 2000’
Rex Features
17/50 1998
Aretha Franklin poses with the Blues Brothers John Goodman, left, J.Evan Bonifant, second left, Joe Morton, second right, and Dan Aykroyd, right, after performing at the 40th Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York
AFP/Getty
18/50 1998
Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti laughs along with singer Aretha Franklin and the group Boyz II Men after accepting the eighth MusiCares Foundation “Person of the Year” award in New York
AFP/Getty
19/50 1999
US President Bill Clinton along with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton award singer Aretha Franklin with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award
AFP/Getty
20/50 2001
Aretha Franklin with show host and producer Don Cornelius
Getty
21/50 2001
Aretha Franklin performs at the conclusion of the Lane Bryant Spring/Summer 2001 Lingerie Show at Studio 54
AFP/Getty Images
22/50 2001
Aretha Franklin onstage performing at ‘VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin’
Getty Images
23/50 2002
Torchbearer Aretha Franklin carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Detroit
Getty Images
24/50 2003
Carly Simon, Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin perform on stage during Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Gala
Getty
25/50 2005
Aretha Franklin and actor Hugh Jackman perform onstage at the 59th Annual Tony Awards
Getty
26/50 2005
Aretha Franklin is presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civil award, by President George Bush at the White House
Getty
27/50 2005
Aretha Franklin (L) and Stevie Wonder onstage at the 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
Getty
28/50 2006
Aretha Franlkin and Aaron Neville perform the National Anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Getty
29/50 2006
Aretha Franklin appears at Berklee College of Music commencement in Boston along with singer Melissa Etheridge, who both received honorary degrees for their achievements in music
Getty
30/50 2007
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the 22nd annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York
Getty
31/50 2008
Aretha Franklin arrives at the 2008 MusiCares person of the year, which was honoring herself
Getty
32/50 2008
Aretha Franklin accepts the Vanguard Award onstage during the 39th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles
Getty
33/50 2009
Aretha Franklin and Josh Groban perform during the Mandela Day Celebration Concert in New York City.
Getty
34/50 2009
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting
Getty
35/50 2010
Aretha Franklin and Ron Isley perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center for Performing Arts
Getty
36/50 2010
Comedian Jamie Foxx leads singer Aretha Franklin to the stage as she is inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame
Getty
37/50 2011
US President Barack Obama kisses Aretha Franklin as First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar applaud after Franklin performed at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington
AFP/Getty
38/50 2011
Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett perform onstage
Getty
39/50 2011
Aretha Franklin and Oprah Winfrey during the taping of the second to last Oprah Winfrey Show at the United Center in Chicago
AFP/Getty
40/50 2011
Aretha Franklin performs to a SRO audience at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
Getty
41/50 2012
Aretha Franklin and William Wilkerson attend the BET Honors 2012 Pre-Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Getty
42/50 2012
Aretha Franklin performs during the BET Honors 2012 at the Warner Theatre
Getty
43/50 2012
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the 10th Annual TV Land Awards at the Lexington Avenue Armory
Getty
44/50 2013
Aretha Franklin performs during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington
AFP/Getty
45/50 2014
Reverend Al Sharpton and Aretha Franklin attend his 60th birthday celebration at the Four Seasons Restaurant
Getty
46/50 2015
US President Barack Obama and outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder listen to singer Aretha Franklin at the Justice Department in Washington. The event marked Holder’s anticipated departure after more than six years of service.
AFP/Getty Images
47/50 2015
Pope Francis looks on as Aretha Franklin performs during the Festival of Families
Getty Images
48/50 2016
Detroit native Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem prior to the start of the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings game
Getty
49/50 2017
Aretha Franklin performs during the “Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives” Premiere Concert
Getty/Tribeca Film Festival
50/50 2017
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates its 25th year
Getty
1/50 1968
Aretha Franklin was born in 1942 and went on to earn the title ‘The Queen of Soul’ for her services to music since the late 60s
Getty
2/50 1968
Aretha Franklin performs onstage in 1968
Getty
3/50 1969
Aretha Franklin on the Andy Williams Show
NBC/Getty
4/50 1967
She signed to Atlantic Records in 1967
Rex
5/50 1968
Franklin achieved huge success with songs including “Spanish Harlem”, “I Say a Little Prayer” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Getty
6/50 1974
She first sang as part of a gospel at a Detroit church where her father, C.L, was the pastor before embarking upon a full-time career in 1960
Rex
7/50 1977
Portrait of American soul singer Aretha Franklin
Getty
8/50 1977
She won 18 Grammys
Rex
9/50 1980
Aretha Franklin has sold over 75m records worldwide
Getty
10/50 1981
George Benson and Aretha Franklin at the Greek Theatre
Rex
11/50 1986
Aretha Franklin Showtime TV Special. In 1987, Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rex
12/50 1992
American music executive Clive Davis and Aretha Franklin attend an event together
Getty
13/50 1993
Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross perform at the Inaugural Gala for President Bill Clinton
Rex Features
14/50 1994
US actor Kirk Douglas applauds singer Aretha Franklin at a reception for the Kennedy Center Honors, which recognised American performance artists who have made lifetime contributions to American culture
AFP/Getty
15/50 1997
Aretha Franklin singing during the inaugural gala dedicated to US President Bill Clinton in Landover
AFP/Getty Images
16/50 1998
Aretha Franklin had a cameo appearance in cult classic ‘The Blues Brothers 2000’
Rex Features
17/50 1998
Aretha Franklin poses with the Blues Brothers John Goodman, left, J.Evan Bonifant, second left, Joe Morton, second right, and Dan Aykroyd, right, after performing at the 40th Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York
AFP/Getty
18/50 1998
Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti laughs along with singer Aretha Franklin and the group Boyz II Men after accepting the eighth MusiCares Foundation “Person of the Year” award in New York
AFP/Getty
19/50 1999
US President Bill Clinton along with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton award singer Aretha Franklin with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award
AFP/Getty
20/50 2001
Aretha Franklin with show host and producer Don Cornelius
Getty
21/50 2001
Aretha Franklin performs at the conclusion of the Lane Bryant Spring/Summer 2001 Lingerie Show at Studio 54
AFP/Getty Images
22/50 2001
Aretha Franklin onstage performing at ‘VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin’
Getty Images
23/50 2002
Torchbearer Aretha Franklin carries the Olympic Flame during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Detroit
Getty Images
24/50 2003
Carly Simon, Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin perform on stage during Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy Gala
Getty
25/50 2005
Aretha Franklin and actor Hugh Jackman perform onstage at the 59th Annual Tony Awards
Getty
26/50 2005
Aretha Franklin is presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civil award, by President George Bush at the White House
Getty
27/50 2005
Aretha Franklin (L) and Stevie Wonder onstage at the 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
Getty
28/50 2006
Aretha Franlkin and Aaron Neville perform the National Anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Getty
29/50 2006
Aretha Franklin appears at Berklee College of Music commencement in Boston along with singer Melissa Etheridge, who both received honorary degrees for their achievements in music
Getty
30/50 2007
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the 22nd annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York
Getty
31/50 2008
Aretha Franklin arrives at the 2008 MusiCares person of the year, which was honoring herself
Getty
32/50 2008
Aretha Franklin accepts the Vanguard Award onstage during the 39th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles
Getty
33/50 2009
Aretha Franklin and Josh Groban perform during the Mandela Day Celebration Concert in New York City.
Getty
34/50 2009
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting
Getty
35/50 2010
Aretha Franklin and Ron Isley perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center for Performing Arts
Getty
36/50 2010
Comedian Jamie Foxx leads singer Aretha Franklin to the stage as she is inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame
Getty
37/50 2011
US President Barack Obama kisses Aretha Franklin as First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar applaud after Franklin performed at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington
AFP/Getty
38/50 2011
Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett perform onstage
Getty
39/50 2011
Aretha Franklin and Oprah Winfrey during the taping of the second to last Oprah Winfrey Show at the United Center in Chicago
AFP/Getty
40/50 2011
Aretha Franklin performs to a SRO audience at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
Getty
41/50 2012
Aretha Franklin and William Wilkerson attend the BET Honors 2012 Pre-Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Getty
42/50 2012
Aretha Franklin performs during the BET Honors 2012 at the Warner Theatre
Getty
43/50 2012
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the 10th Annual TV Land Awards at the Lexington Avenue Armory
Getty
44/50 2013
Aretha Franklin performs during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington
AFP/Getty
45/50 2014
Reverend Al Sharpton and Aretha Franklin attend his 60th birthday celebration at the Four Seasons Restaurant
Getty
46/50 2015
US President Barack Obama and outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder listen to singer Aretha Franklin at the Justice Department in Washington. The event marked Holder’s anticipated departure after more than six years of service.
AFP/Getty Images
47/50 2015
Pope Francis looks on as Aretha Franklin performs during the Festival of Families
Getty Images
48/50 2016
Detroit native Aretha Franklin sings the National Anthem prior to the start of the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings game
Getty
49/50 2017
Aretha Franklin performs during the “Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives” Premiere Concert
Getty/Tribeca Film Festival
50/50 2017
Aretha Franklin performs onstage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates its 25th year
Getty
Two written in 2010 and discovered in a locked cabinet declared that Franklin’s niece Sabrina Owens and son Theodore White II would be co-executors of her estate. But one written in 2014, which was found under a sofa cushion, saw the names of Owens and White scratched out, with Franklin apparently wanting her son Kecalf Franklin to serve as representative of her estate, which is speculated to be worth $80m.
The 2014 will, however, is hard to decipher, with notes written in margins and text scribbled out with pen. Lawyers for Franklin’s estate have additionally said “there is no basis” to believe Kecalf Franklin has the skills to administer the estate.
Now a handwriting expert will examine the 2014 will, with a Michigan judge also declaring this week that Franklin’s estate is being placed under court supervision while an investigation is pending.
Franklin died in August 2018 at the age of 76, after suffering a pancreatic tumour.
