Aretha Franklin sets a new record. Dana Canedy, the Administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, announced its class of 2019 honorees on Monday at Columbia University, with two special citations awarded. The late Queen of Soul received one of the two exclusive awards, becoming the first women to be crowned with this supreme honor in the 89 years of the award category.
Franklin’s special citation award recognizes the soul singer “for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades.”
Last month, Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, John Legend, SZA, and more lifted their voices together to salute Franklin in a star-studded, two-hour special on CBS.
Following the all-star tribute, Franklin’s long-shelved 1972 Amazing Grace documentary hit silver screens in select New York and Los Angeles. The concert film is slated to premiere in theaters across the country later this year.
Amazing Grace, the album, is now available on vinyl. Noted as Franklin’s best-selling album to date, the 180-gram LPs that includes performances of “Precious Memories, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” “How I Got Over,” and many more church standards.
