Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to parents Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn ‘CL’ Franklin. 

Her mother, Barbara Siggers, was a talented piano player and renowned gospel singer. Siggers had a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship before marrying Aretha’s father, C.L., in 1936. The couple had four children together — Erma, Cecil,  Aretha and Carolyn, but their marriage was troubled. According to various reports, Barbara was fed up with her husband’s infidelity and moved to New York in 1948 with her son Vaughn — although the couple never officially divorced. Barbara frequently visited her children in Detroit. She died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, at the age of 34, just before Aretha turned 10 years old.

C. L. Franklin, Aretha’s father, was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist. He had a child outside of his marriage with a 12-year-old member of his congregation when he was 25. Known as the man with the “million-dollar voice,” he became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in 1946 until he was shot and wounded in 1979, in what was believed to be an attempted robbery at his home, Smooth Radio reports. C.L. Franklin died in 1984 at age 69, having spent five years in a coma following his shooting.

Aretha was involved in various romantic relationships throughout her life. Some are better documented than others, but these five men were the ones that were most prominent in her life.  

Edward Jordan reportedly fathered two of Aretha’s four sons, Clarence Franklin and Edward Franklin Jr. It’s unclear how Aretha met Jordan and what the nature of their relationship was, but Aretha hinted in her wills, discovered in 2019, that Jordan was an absentee father. In one of her wills, Aretha explicitly states that Jordan should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence, as he never contributed to his welfare “except $5 or $10 when he was a child,” Hour Detroit reports. 

Theodore ‘Ted’ White was Aretha’s first husband, the pair married in 1961 when she was 19. White was reportedly a well-known Detroit pimp who saw an opportunity in Aretha’s musical talents, Heavy reports. After marrying White, Aretha appointed him as her manager. The couple had a son, Ted “Teddy” White, Jr., in 1964. Her marriage to White was a rocky one, as White was allegedly very violent and abusive toward Aretha, according to Vanity Fair. The couple split up in 1969.

Ken Cunningham was Aretha’s road manager and in 1970 the two had a son, Aretha’s fourth child, Kecalf Cunningham. Franklin and Cunningham reportedly lived together for a time but never married, Bustle reports. The two were in a relationship that lasted between 1968 and 1976, according to Heavy.

Glynn Turman was Aretha’s second husband; they tied the knot in 1978, a year after meeting. Turman was an actor and had three children from a previous marriage, Aretha became their stepmother. Despite the seemingly ideal Hollywood pairing, the couple separated in 1982 and officially divorced in 1984. The two allegedly remained friends up until Aretha’s death in 2018, Glynn even visited her at her bedside before she passed, according to People.

Willie Wilkerson was a longtime companion of Aretha’s, often referred to as her “forever friend.” Wilkerson was a former firefighter and the pair reportedly met in the 1980s. In 2012 the two got engaged but then called off the engagement just a few weeks later. Some reports claim that the two had actually been engaged another time, before 2012, but that one was ended, as well, according to The Detroit News. Wilkerson passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19. He was 72.

Aretha’s first son, Clarence Franklin, was born in 1955. Aretha named him after her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin. Like his mother, Clarence wrote several songs, some of which Aretha went on to sing and record. According to The New York Times, it’s reported in court documents that Clarence was diagnosed with a mental illness and has lived in assisted living facilities. Aretha made “special provisions” for him in her wills, Smooth Radio reports.

Edward Franklin was born in 1957. He’s named after his father, Edward Jordan. Edward Franklin worked as a gospel singer. He performed several duets with his mother, and he even sang at her funeral.  

Ted White Jr., Aretha’s third son, was born in 1964. Ted White Jr. is the son of Aretha’s first husband, Ted White Sr. Ted is an accomplished guitarist and singer who goes by the professional name Teddy Richards. He played guitar for his mother for several years and he’s opened for performers like Seal and The Verve Pipe, according to his website. 

Aretha’s youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in 1970. Kecalf’s name is an acronym for his parents’ names: Ken E. Cunningham and Aretha Louise Franklin. Kecalf is a retired Christian rapper who has performed with his mother on several occasions. He has three children — Aretha’s only grandchildren — named Jordan, Victorie and Grace Franklin.