Aretha Franklin Receives Honorary Doctorate from Princeton University

The Queen of Soul was recognized during the school's commencement ceremony.

Posted: 06/07/2012 10:30 AM EDT
Aretha Franklin

Princeton University has presented Aretha Franklin with an honorary Doctorate of Music during its commencement ceremony on Tuesday due to her impressive 50-year-long career as Queen of Soul.

"With her singular 'Amazing Grace,' Franklin continues to traverse musical bridges 'over troubled water,'" said university trustee Stephen Oxman as he bestowed the honor upon the singer.

Franklin has amassed 21 Grammy Awards and recorded 223 albums covering gospel, soul, rock, jazz, blues and pop. She performed at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s funeral in 1968 as well as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama's presidential inaugurations. In 2007, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.


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