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WRESTLEMANIA CELEBRITY ARETHA FRANKLIN PASSES AWAY

By Mike Johnson on 2018-08-16 10:35:00

Legendary singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin, the internationally renowned "Queen of Soul" passed away this morning from pancreatic cancer.  She was 76 years old.

Franklin made several appearances at WWE's flagship PPV event, Wrestlemania.  Franklin opened the iconic Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987, performing "America the Beautiful" with Vince McMahon introducing her.

When Wrestlemania returned to Detroit, Michigan twenty years later in 2007, Franklin returned to again perform the song.

PWInsider.com extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Aretha Franklin.

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WWE issued the following:

WWE is saddened to learn that legendary singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin has passed away. The multi-time Grammy Award winner performed a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania III and again at WrestleMania 23. WWE extends its condolences to her family, friends and fans.

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