"This Is It." The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin Announces Retirement in 2017

On Thursday, February 9th the Associated Press confirmed an announcement made by the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin on a Detroit TV station that she will be retiring in 2017.

The 74 year old who is known for such infectious songs like "Respect" and Think" told Detroit's WDIV Local 4 that she plans to make one more album, with several tracks produced by Stevie Wonder. ''This will be my last year," she told them during the interview. "I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it."

But she said that she is otherwise "very satisfied" with her career and is ready to step back.