Aretha Franklin To Retire After Releasing New Album

Legendary performer Aretha Franklin will retire later this year. The Queen Of Soul will step away following the release of an album she’s set to record with producer Stevie Wonder.

Franklin spoke with Detroit television station WDIV about her pending retirement, telling the outlet:

I must tell you, I am retiring this year. This will be my last year. I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it.

The album of all new original songs is expected in September and will be recorded exclusively in Detroit. Franklin plans to support the record with a tour featuring “maybe one [show] a month, for six months out of the year.” Franklin’s last full length album was the 2014 Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics covers LP.

[Hat Tip – Billboard]