Aretha Franklin, also known as the “Queen of Soul,” can now add doctor to her title. On Tuesday June 5, the soul legend received an honorary doctorate of music degree from Princeton University during its 265th commencement ceremony.
Wearing her black robe and cap with golden tassel, Franklin received her pink doctoral hood from Stephen Oxman, the commencement orator, who said, “She pioneered an impeccably bold and fearless, affective and affecting style of performance that calls upon listeners to journey to the depths of her soul and, in so doing, discover their own.”
Franklin’s doctoral qualifications include 44 albums and 21 Grammy awards in her 50-year music career. She was also the first woman honored by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Franklin is to perform a tribute to the late Whitney Houston at the 2012 BET Music Awards airing on Sunday July 1 at 8pm on BET.
