Elementary school Quote by Inspectah Deck

As a kid, I was listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James and hip-hop as well as music my parents were listening to, like Joni…

— Alanis Morissette

I certainly knew who was there before me - Nat King Cole, Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Billie Holiday - not only because that was…

— Leslie Uggams

When Aretha Franklin came on the radio when I was in college, we would stop the car, throw open the doors, jump out, and…

— Kathy Bates

There was a time in American history when almost every white person knew who Aretha Franklin was.

— Peabo Bryson

Growing up in Cleveland, I learned about singing from my mother, who had once sung professionally and who admired Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.

— Tracy Chapman

I was a pop-music junkie. My parents were into Frank Sinatra and Doris Day. They weren't too excited when I had Aretha or the…

— Kara DioGuardi

I used to be a pop singer; well, not used to be. I am an R&B singer. My emphasis was on Stevie Wonder and…

— Keala Settle

I always loved James Brown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke.

— Charles Bradley

I was fortunate enough to meet Aretha Franklin but I was so overwhelmed that I just burst out crying.

— Lisa Stansfield

People say I'm the white Aretha Franklin. I wish I was her.

— Joss Stone

I grew up in Arizona listening to Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton.

— Meghan McCain

It wasn't until high school, maybe my senior year, when I started listening to Hank Jr.

— Uncle Kracker