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Her favorite film as a child was The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) Younger sister of vocalist Erma Franklin, who originally recorded the song "Piece of My Heart," later a hit for Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin. Older sister of singer/songwriter Carolyn Franklin, who wrote Aretha's hit "Ain't No Way." Daughter of the Rev. Cecil Franklin. She gave birth to her first child at age 14, the second at age 16. 1984: Her father, the Rev. Cecil Franklin, died after having been shot by a burglar. Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Won 15 Grammy Awards; Grammy Legend Award; Kennedy Center Honor. She has four sons: Clarence, Jr., was born when she was 14; Edward ("Eddie") when she was 16; Ted White, Jr. ("Teddy"), son and namesake of her first husband and former manager, Ted White; and, Kecalf, her son with Ken Cunningham. Aretha's grandmother took in the two eldest children so that Aretha could pursue her career. 11/9/05: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. Other recipients were Frank Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Gen. Richard Myers, Paul Rusesabagina, Carol Burnett, Andy Griffith, Vint Cerf and his Internet co-developer Robert Kahn, Jack Nicklaus, Alan Greenspan and former congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery. 1999: She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC. Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, was an avid fan of her work. Godmother of Whitney Houston. Voted the greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll in 2008. She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.