Aretha Franklin Receives Honorary Degree From Princeton University
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — The "Queen of Soul" has a new honor.
Aretha Franklin received an honorary Doctorate of Music degree during Princeton University's commencement Tuesday.
Known for a vast repertoire that spans soul, jazz, rock, blues, pop and gospel, the 70-year-old Franklin has recorded 223 albums in a career spanning more than 50 years and received 21 Grammy Awards. She has performed at presidential inaugurations and also sang at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
Following Princeton tradition, the identity of the honorary degree recipients was kept secret until the morning of the Ivy League school's commencement. Other recipients included Pete Carril, who coached the Princeton's men's basketball team for 29 seasons.
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