This information was revealed in one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019. While the 2014 will says his brothers and other representatives of the estate are to look after him, the 2010 version is more specific, giving Clarence $150 per week and leaving instructions to provide him with seasonal clothing. Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. The film, starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul and Forest Whitaker as her father, C.L. The paternity of Franklins oldest son has long been shrouded in mystery. At 26-years-old, Jordan Franklin is Aretha's oldest grandchild. Despite much speculation about her romantic life, the child's father was Aretha's school friend Donald Burk. Arethas youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born on March 28, 1970 as a result of an 8-year relationship with her road manager Ken Cunningham, between 1968 and 1976. In a 1995 interview with Katz Tapes, Franklin spoke about her sons and their love of music. At age 12, the music legend gave birth to her first child, Clarence, in 1955. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. My sons grew up pretty much the same way I did, she said. Citing another Franklin biography, Ritz wrote that Franklins pregnancy was non-eventful and that despite her young age, Arethas father and extended family in Detroit were supportive. She performed a tribute to her grandmother at the BET Honors ceremony in 2004, singing Tamela Manns Take Me to the King. Victorie, a rising Howard University rising sophomore, has also performed at family functions, including her grandmothers Christmas party in 2016. The net worth of Aretha at the time of her death was $80 million. A member of SheKnows Media Entertainment. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Specifically, Ms. Franklin's will stated: "Edward Jordan Sr. should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence or that Clarence receives as he has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past, monetarily, except $5 or $10 when he was a child." "I've evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer and accomplished tunesmith; I truly love music and enjoy the journey that it's taken me on," Richards wrote in his bio. According to the news site Inquisitr, "The father of the child was Donald Burk, a boy she knew from school." [75] On January 22, 1957, then aged 14, Franklin had a second . Now that the legends wills have been discovered, its up to the courts and her sons to decipher them. However, investigators were told that Franklin was able to walk out of the hospital. Franklins wills include provisions to distribute her finances to her children, grandchildren, and other family members, with the sons inheriting most of her possessions and contracts related to song royalties and upcoming projects, including a biopic that will reportedly star Jennifer Hudson. In a scene set at New Yorks Village Vanguard club in 1964, Washington (Mary J. Blige) becomes incensed when the little-knownFranklin begins to play Unforgettable, one of the jazz greats signature numbers. There were rumors that Franklin had an affair with legendary singer Sam Cooke around the time of Edwards birth, and that he was the childs actual father, however, there has never been any evidence to support that theory. However, she kept the father's identity a secret and only revealed it in one of her handwritten wills. I think parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home, she said, [so they] leave home prepared, really., In 2015, Franklin talked with CNN about how difficult it was raising sons in the modern day. In the wills, Franklin goes to great lengths to make sure that her four sons are treated. All Research ; . To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. What was written suggested that he was completely absent from Clarences life. The pair was engaged but called off a wedding in 2012. Franklin's birthday. Her gowns, shoes, and other clothing items were also left to them to be sold at auction by Sothebys or given to the Smithsonian or other museums of their choice. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for June 12. Franklin married twice and gave birth to four sons, and some of them have followed in her footsteps by launching music careers. The note reads, "His father, Edward Jordan Sr., should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence or that Clarence receives as he has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past, monetarily, material, spiritual, etc, except $5 or $10 when he was a child.". Aretha Franklin's son lashes out at upcoming biopic and urges fans to boycott it; Aretha Franklin's 10 greatest songs ever, ranked Everything Everywhere All at Once leads with eight nominations tonight. No, Chad is not Clarences biological father. While that nickname would later become popular forsome inside Franklins circle, it wasnt the go-to moniker during her younger life. The song In Your Garden was appears on Teddy's CD Gravity. Edward Jordan is the father of two of Franklin's sons. Edward Jordan is the father of Aretha Franklin's first two sons; Clarence Franklin and Edward Franklin. Franklins gospel group in the 1950s said: When it came to pure heart singing, they were motherf*****s. When it came to pure sex, they were wilder than meand thats saying something. Ke Huy Quan Continues His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards. Edward also sang at a memorial service in June 2015 for his grandfather, Rev. Aretha Franklin's first marriage was to Ted White. She added. YouTube/Jazz Jewels TV Franklin was also reportedly her sons business manager when he started his music career. See footage of that in the above below: In 2015, Edward sang a tribute song in honor of his grandfather,Rev. In one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019, Franklin revealed that the father was Edward Jordan . She then had another child when she was 14-years-old by Edward Jordan - who her brother . But then, in a mid-May plot twist, Franklins family discovered three wills handwritten by the Queen of Soul: Two dating from 2010 were locked away in a cabinet, and another from 2014 was found in a spiral notebook left under a couch cushion. After Franklins death, the four brothers unanimously approved of her becoming executor, while the 2014 will says Kecalf should fill that role; instead, Owens would receive $200,000, with $50,000 going to Franklins now-deceased half-sister, Carl Ellan Kelley. But according to The Washington Post, after just a few years in Detroit, Siggers ended her relationship with Franklin's father and moved back to Buffalo.Despite the breakup of her parents' marriage, Smooth Radio writes that Franklin continued to see her mother . Aretha had married twice throughout her lifetime and got engaged once. The Wagner opera returns to the Met for the first time in 17 years. Franklin was twice divorced. Franklin is very, very, very, very, very protective of him, Mitchell said, according to the Telegraph. Either way, Franklin stipulated that Jordan should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence because he has never made any contribution to [Clarences] welfare, future or past. She underlined never for emphasis. Her debut studio album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo was released the next year. NOR DO WE SUPPORT THE BOOK THE QUEEN NEXT DOOR!!!!! Franklin was taken to the hospital and even had to undergo surgery, though the details of his injury were not disclosed to the public. . It was reported that Aretha was giving Victorie one-on-one vocal coaching and she thinks Victorie has a rather bright future and a big career ahead of her. Speaking about her granddaughter, Aretha said: Shes coming along very well. After what felt like ages, it was a relief to have Ms. Franklin return, energies renewed, to belt out Chain of Fools., #QueenOfSoul great photo of #ArethaFranklin and her son Kecalf Cunningham stand under a newly unveiled street sign named in her honor outside Detroit's Music Hall in 2017. source Guralnick/Detroit News via AP pic.twitter.com/9VHiXK5JfQ, NAME DEPOT (@thenamedepot) August 16, 2018. 1968 - Best R&B Recording & Performance - Respect 1969 - Best R&B Performance - Chain of Fools 1970 - Best R&B Performance - Share Your Love With Me 1971 - Best R&B Performance - Don't Play That Song 1972 - Best R&B Performance - Bridge Over Troubles Water 1973 - Best R&B Performance - Young, Gifted & Black - Amazing . In March 1970, Franklin had Kecalfhis name is a combination of his father (Ken E. Cunningham) and mothers initials (Aretha L. Franklin). Prior to that, it was believed that Franklin left no will when she passed in August 2018. She became pregnant with Clarence when she was 12 years old and he was born on January 28, 1955. The couple neer married, but Franklin reportedly referred to Jordan as the father of her two sons in her handwritten wills. Regardless of the details, it is clear that Aretha wanted her son to be taken care of and she wanted him to have access to whatever resources and support he may need. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Cunningham also voiced his displeasure with the NatGeo show. Edward Jordan was around 24 years old when he fathered a child with Aretha Franklin. The details of a life, a home, and a community ordered by sexual . SUBSCRIBE: po.st/TMZSubscribe About TMZ: TMZ has consistently been credited for breaking the biggest stories dominating the entertainment news landscape and. Later in life, it was announced that Franklin intended to marry longtime friend Willie Wilkerson. Just as we did with the Purple Ones complex legacy, Vulture is attempting to break down what Franklins wills mean for her estate, how any of this might get settled in or out of court, and what the last testaments reveal about her life such as the paternity of one of her children and which employees she felt the need to take a few digs at. In truth, that backup vocalhookwas likely just a catchy spin on the title reeeee-spect.. Along with Reverend Franklin, Aretha is also buried alongide two of her sisters, Erma and Carolyn. Anencephaly: The Tragedy of Brainless Babies. Erma also explained that, despite giving birth young, their parents did not see that as a reason for them to stop pursuing their professional dreams. In the movie, the nickname is even depicted as the inspiration for one of the signature backing vocals in the hitsong Respect: As Franklins sisters help her work out the tune at a piano, theystart singing Ree-Ree-Ree in tribute to her. A love of music clearly ran in the Franklin family. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. However, it remained a mystery for years who is the biological father of her kids. Sure! In a passing scene in Respect, producer Jerry Wexler (Marc Maron) tells Franklin she has been offered a song to record, and if she passes, the Beatles wantit for themselves. EDDIE FRANKLIN His eye is on the sparrow. The Life Story of Aretha Franklins Son Clarence Franklin, The Franklin Sisters: Arethas Iconic Backup Vocals, Twins Unparalleled: The Success of Chloe and Halle Bailey, The Sweet and Genuine Frienship of Meghan Trainor and Jojo Siwa, Al B. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. Its unlikely that ever happened at least not with Franklin. Just because it never happened doesnt mean they cant get back together. When investigators went to the hospital to get a statement from him, he had already checked himself out. Yet her family are now hitting the headlines for a very different reason - they are locked in a bitter war battling over her will, after the discovery of four explosive handwritten notes supposedly dividing her estate between her sons. Although theres not much information available about Clarences current occupation and whereabouts, it is believed that he wrote some songs for his mother whch were eventually recorded by her. In a scene set at her California home, a frazzled Aretha is snapping at everyone around her. Without the aid of an attorney or another representative having drawn this up in an editable digital format, Franklins will sometimes reads like stream of consciousness with occasionally illegible notes added in bolder ink. The 2010 will says Kecalf and Edward must take classes in business administration and earn a degree or certificate in order to receive the aforementioned things in the will, including the properties and shares of her estate. Her son Clarence was named after Franklins father, a successful minister who usually went by C.L. Mrs. According to Arethas handwritten wills, she had made special provisions for Clarence in order to ensure that he was taken care of after her passing. His father was Ken Cunningham (aka Ken E. Cunningham ), the one-time Kecalf's road manager. Ted Sr. and Aretha split in 1969 after reports of domestic abuse. Owenss role in the estate is now unclear. The cause of the accident is murky. She originally claimed the father was a schoolmate, yet in the wills she reportedly had handwritten, she refers to Edward Sr. as his father. She has also been included in the National Women's Hall of Fame. I came down to see her rehearse, and she brought tears to my eyes.. Just shy of her 15th birthday, Aretha gave birth to a second son: Eddie, named after his father, Edward Jordan. They exchanged wedding vows on October 16, 1934, and later divorced in 1936. Clarence Franklin was born in 1955, when Aretha Franklin was just 12 years old. Who are her children? Edward remains sided with Kecalf in advocating for the 2014 will. Contrary to whats seen in Respect, where Ree flies left and right, friends and family called her "Aretha.". The document names Clarence's father as Edward Jordan Sr., another local boy with whom she shared her second son, Edward, born when Franklin was 15. I was just surprised to see how loose they were., Just one year after giving birth to her first child, Aretha Franklin became pregnant again with another boy. At the time, the official explanationwas that Franklin had been blinded by stage lights. We did so knowingly.. Edward Jr. performed with his mother many times throughout his career. At a recent hearing where a judge considered distributing some personal keepsakes to her sons, Bennett claimed that Obama has asked to be given the iconic silver-bow hat she wore to his first inauguration. Initial court documents filed over the wills seek to have Franklins catalogue and likeness be appraised by Shot Tower Capital, which has handled the cases of Prince and Michael Jackson. Included in one of those documents was the revelation that the father of Franklins son Clarence was apparently Edward Jordan Sr., and not Burke as was previously believed. Teddy Richards - At Harmonie Park (Part 1) July 2011, Aretha Franklin's son sings classic in honour of late mother, We Have To Stand Up For Ourselves: Aretha Franklins Children Highlight The Queen's Activism, The Complex History of Aretha Franklin's Children, The Creative Process Behind "Genius: Aretha", Five Lessons We Learned From "Genius: Aretha", Jennifer Hudson Is Starring as Aretha Franklin, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads.