Who are Aretha Franklin's children? Here's how many of them followed in late singer's musical footsteps
Aretha Franklin's reign as "Queen of Soul" certainly didn't come easy. After all, Aretha reportedly became pregnant with her first child at just age 12. Some credit her father for ensuring a teen pregnancy didn't come in the way of what he believed was his daughter's destiny. However, it clearly must have been immensely challenging for young Aretha to focus on her music while also being a teen mother.
Her first son Clarence's father is believed to be a boy Aretha knew from school called Donald Burk. While she named her son after her father, also Clarence, she also gave him her family name Franklin. Aretha's second child was born in 1957 when Aretha was just 14 and was fathered by Edward Jordan. The child was called Edward after his father and was looked after by Aretha's grandmother and her sisters while she pursued her musical career.
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By the time Aretha married for the first time at 19, she was already a mother-of-two and would go onto have her third child with first husband Ted White.
Aretha's third child Ted White Jr, unlike her first two children, followed in his mother's footsteps and is a successful singer and guitarist. Aretha had her fourth and last child at the age of 28. Her son Kecalf was born in 1970. His father was Aretha's road manager Ken E Cunningham and Kecalf's name is an acronym of both his father and mother’s full names. Kecalf is also musical and is a Christian rapper. He also notably performed with his mother in 2008 at Radio City Music Hall.
Post Aretha's death, things have gotten rather ugly between her children. Since Aretha died without a will, there has been a battle between the brothers over who gets control of her estate. Aretha's finances were certainly not in order and she reportedly owed the IRS $8 million.
However, there are still millions to be gained from her legacy. Which one of her sons will ultimately end up benefitting the most remains to be seen. You can find out more about Aretha's life as a mother and a musician in 'Genius: Aretha' on Sunday, March 21, 9/8c on National Geographic. Watch the trailer below: