On the morning of Thursday, August 16th, the undeniable “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, died at her home in Detroit. She was surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement from Franklin’s family:

“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds,” Franklin’s family said. “We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters, and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, confirmed that the official cause of death was advanced pancreatic cancer. Reportedly, the singer’s health had been failing for years, but she kept her struggles private.

In February 2017, Franklin announced she would stop touring, but she continued to book concerts. Earlier this year, she canceled several performances, including at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, due to the decline in her health. Her final public performance was last November, singing at an Elton John AIDS Foundation gala in New York.

But before poor health dictated when she performed, Franklin was a powerhouse of the music industry for more than half a century. She was originally signed to Columbia Records in 1960, but it wasn’t until her arrival at Atlantic Records that her career took off — between 1967 and 1968, Franklin had 10 Top Ten hits, including some of her most famous songs “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

Unsurprisingly, Franklin was the first woman admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at which point she had racked up 88 Billboard chart hits.

The “Queen of Soul” will never be forgotten and neither will the long-lasting impact she made on gospel music, R&B, and the greater entertainment industry. Rest in peace, Aretha.