Aretha Franklin was not only known as the Queen of Souls or 16 times Grammy Award winner, she was also a proud mother. A mother with four sons: Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf. Aretha Franklin started her journey into motherhood at age 12 in 1955, but despite her fame, the singer kept her sons’ life under wraps. However, when she passed away at age 76 on Aug. 16, 2018, from pancreatic cancer, her sons gained public attention. They mourned her, in a statement issued by the family, and described their mother as a “matriarch and rock.”
Unfortunately, things did not go on smoothly after she passed away, her three sons had legal disputes over the ownership of her estates. As at the time of her death, there was no formal will. Surprisingly, two handwritten documents, one dated 2010 and the other in 2014, were found in Aretha’s house, hence the legal battle.
Aretha Franklin gave birth to Clarence at age 12
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This revelation brought renewed attention to the many personal challenges Aretha faced throughout her life. Netizens assumed that her early journey into motherhood caused much suffering for her. She gave birth to her first child, Clarence, when she was a preteen.
At first, a lot of people believed that the father of her oldest son, Clarence, was Donald Burke, a boy she knew from school. However, the handwritten will, discovered in 2019, proved them wrong; it revealed that Edward Jordan, the father of Aretha’s second son, was Clarence’s father. Aretha also added in the will that Edward “never made any contribution to [their] welfare, future or past, monetarily, material, spiritual, etc.”
Being her first child, Clarence must have held a special place in her heart, he was named after Aretha’s father who was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist. His other name is his mother’s second name, Franklin. Many reports prove that Clarence has written many songs, and the songs have been recorded and performed by Aretha.
Currently, no one is aware of the whereabouts of Clarence, however according to court papers obtained by The New York Times, Clarence has special needs, and he lives in an assisted living facility. Nevertheless, plans have been made by his mother to care for him after her demise.
Where are Aretha Franklin’s children now?
At 14, Aretha gave birth to her second son, Edward, whose father was Edward Jordan. Edward Franklin, now 64, is a talented gospel singer and performer in his own right. Edward often sang with his mother, he even performed at family occasions, including the funeral of his grandfather, Rev. C.L. Franklin, in 2015. After Aretha’s passing in 2018, Edward honored her memory by delivering a powerful rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me” at her funeral.
Aretha’s third son, Ted White Jr., professionally known as Teddy Richards, was born in 1964 during her marriage to Ted White. Teddy, now 60, has a successful career as a singer and guitarist. Teddy frequently performed alongside Aretha, often playing backup guitar in her band. Over the years, he also established himself as an independent musician, opening for renowned artists such as Seal, Lenny Kravitz, and INXS.
The Queen of Soul\ welcomed her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, in 1970 when she was 28. His father, Ken Cunningham, was Aretha’s tour manager. His name is an acronym of his parents’ names — Ken E. Cunningham and Aretha Louise Franklin. Kecalf, now 54, pursued a career as a Christian rapper, like his older brothers, Kecalf performed with Aretha on various occasions, including a memorable concert at Radio City Music Hall in 2008. Kecalf is also a proud father, and several of his children have followed in their grandmother’s footsteps as singer-songwriters.
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Aretha’s sons have not only upheld her musical legacy but have also shared their unique talents with the world. Despite the challenges they faced after her passing, their mother’s influence remains evident in their lives and careers.