Politics
Who are Aretha Franklin’s children and where are they now?
THE Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 aged 76 from pancreatic cancer.
She was one of the most successful American singers of all time and the first ever woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But what about her family life? Here is the lowdown…
Who are Aretha Franklin’s children?
Aretha Franklin had four children.
Her first son Clarence was born in 1955. He took her second name.
Two years later she gave birth to her second son Edward, to a different father.
Then, after marrying Ted White, she had a third son, Teddy White Jr.
Aretha’s youngest son Kecalf was born in 1970. His name is an acronym of both his father and mother’s full names — Ken E. Cunningham (the star’s road manager) and Aretha Louise Franklin.
Aretha and family[/caption]
How old was she when they were born?
Aretha was just 12 when she had her first child.
According to biographer David Ritz, the father of her oldest son Clarence was Donald Burke, whom Franklin knew from school.
Two years later aged 14 she welcomed Edward – the son of Edward Jordan.
She married her first husband Ted White aged 19 and gave birth to Ted Jr at 25.
Aretha had her last son aged 28 in 1970 – the son of her tour manager Ken Cunningham
Where are they now?
Aretha Franklin’s children all appear to have followed in her musical footsteps in some capacity.
Little is known about first-born Clarence but he reportedly had the least musical interest of her four sons.
He is believed to have written a number of songs, including some recorded by his mother. His current occupation and exact whereabouts is known.
Edward, now 64, is a remarkable singer in his own right.
He performed several duets with his mother over the years and even sang at his grandfather’s funeral in 2015.
More on Aretha Franklin
Her third son Ted Jr, now 57, is a successful singer and guitarist.
He has released several albums and played at many of his mother’s concerts, as well as being the opening act for artists such as Seal, The Verve Pipe and INXS.
The youngest, Kecalf, now 50, is a Christian rapper.
He also performed with his mother and their most notable performance was a 2008 concert at the Radio City Music Hall.
