A timeline of major events in the life of Aretha Franklin

A timeline of major events in the life and work of Aretha Franklin:

March 1942 — Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, would move the family briefly to Buffalo before settling in Detroit when Aretha was 2. She would call the city home for most of her life, and would always be closely associated with its massive musical legacy.

1956 — Franklin releases her first album, a gospel collection called "Songs of Faith," recorded at her father's church when she was 14.

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011 file photo, Aretha Franklin sings before President Barack Obama speaks during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington. Franklin died Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit. She was 76. (AP PhotoCharles Dharapak, File)

1961 — Franklin marries her manager, Ted White. Their troubled eight-year union is believed to have inspired her performances on many songs.

February 1961 — Franklin releases her first album for Columbia Records. She would have only minor hits in her six years with the label, which pushed her toward jazz and show tunes and away from her gospel roots.

November 1966 — Franklin signs with Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler encourages her to embrace her classic soul-and-gospel sound. Several classic songs immediately followed, including "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools."

February 1967 — "Respect," Franklin's career-defining anthem, is recorded. The song would reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, win Franklin two Grammys and make her an international star. A month later it would be the opening track on her breakthrough album, "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You."

June 1972 — A live gospel album, "Amazing Grace," is released amid a revival in spiritual music. It sold more than 2 million copies and is among Franklin's biggest hits.

January 1977 — Franklin sings "God Bless America" at the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.

June 1980 — The hit film comedy "The Blues Brothers" is released, with Franklin appearing and singing "Think" in one of the film's most popular scenes. It signaled that the 1980s would bring a career revival.

July 1985 — "Freeway of Love" off of Franklin's "Who's Zooming Who" album, becomes her first top 10 hit in more than a decade.

January 1987 — Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

April 1987 — "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)," a duet with George Michael, reaches No. 1 on the pop chart.

December 1994 — Franklin, at age 52, becomes the youngest person ever chosen for the Kennedy Center honors. In his tribute, President Bill Clinton said he and the first lady considered her among their favorite artists. "You could say that Hillary and I went to college and law school with Aretha because there was scarcely a day when we didn't listen to one of her songs," said the president.

September 1999 — She receives the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award from President Bill Clinton, who says Franklin "brought sunshine to a rainy day and tenderness to a hardened heart."

November 2005 — President George Bush presents her with the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award.

February 2008 — Franklin wins her last Grammy Award — her 18th — for Best Gospel Performance for "Never Gonna Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige. She is also a Grammy Lifetime Achievement and a Living Legend awardee.

January 2009 — Franklin sings "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

October 2014 — Franklin's cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" reaches No. 47 on Billboard's R&B chart. It's her 100th charting single, and she's the first woman to reach the milestone.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced Monday he will run for reelection this year, squelching speculation that the 82-year-old progressive icon might retire at a time when the Democratic Party is anxious about the advancing age of its top leaders.

Hailing from a Democratic stronghold, Sanders' decision virtually guarantees that he will return to Washington for a fourth Senate term. And his announcement comes at a critical moment for Democrats as the party navigates a growing divide over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Sanders has criticized President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. relationship with Israel even as he's hailed much of Biden's domestic agenda ahead of what could be a tough reelection fight for Biden against presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Sanders said he wants the war in Gaza ended immediately, massive humanitarian aid to follow and no more money sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are living in a complicated and difficult political moment," Sanders told The Associated Press on Monday. “I very strongly disagree with Biden in terms of the war in Gaza.”

At home, he said, the presidential election is between Biden and Trump, “and Donald Trump is in my view the most dangerous president, has been the most dangerous president in American history.”

With the prospect of Trump's possible return to the White House, Sanders framed his bid to return to the Senate as being driven by concerns about the future of democracy in the U.S. In an announcement video, he said that in many ways the 2024 election “is the most consequential election in our lifetimes.”

“Will the United States continue to even function as a democracy, or will we move to an authoritarian form of government?” he said. He questioned whether the country will reverse what he called “the unprecedented level of income and wealth inequality” and if it can create a government that works for all, and not continue with a political system dominated by wealthy campaign contributors.

Known for his liberal politics and crusty demeanor, Sanders has been famously consistent over his 40 years in politics, championing better health care paid for by the government, higher taxes for the wealthy, less military intervention and major solutions for climate change. He has also spent his career trying to hold corporate executives to account, something that he’s had more power to do as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Sanders is an independent. He was a Democratic congressman for 16 years and still caucuses with the Democrats.

He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. He said a year ago that he would forgo another presidential bid and endorse Biden’s reelection this year.

“I have been, and will be if re-elected, in a strong position to provide the kind of help that Vermonters need in these difficult times,” Sanders said in a review of his positions as chairman of the important Senate panel and a member of the chamber's Democratic leadership team, as well as a senior member of various other committees.

AP writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed from Washington.

FILE - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., smiles as he addresses Unite Here Local 11 workers holding a rally, April 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. Sanders is running for re-election. The 82-year-old, from Vermont, announced Monday, May 6, that he's seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a news conference, Jan. 25, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington. Sanders is running for re-election. The 82-year-old, from Vermont, announced Monday, May 6, that he's seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)