Aretha Franklin Makes History As The First Individual Woman to Receive “Special Citation” Pulitzer Prize for Music

On Monday, The “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin was announced as a winner at the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes for Arts, Drama, and Music, honoring her posthumously for her lifetime of achievement.

Franklin, who died of Pancreatic Cancer last year at the age of 76, has been awarded with a “Special Citation,” for “her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades.”

According to Billboard, “Franklin is the first individual woman to receive the prize since the honor was first awarded in 1930.” Franklin was also the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. 

The legendary singer has been recognized with awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Kennedy Center Honors, adding Pulitzer to the list.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The Pulitzer Prize administration honors excellence in journalism and the arts each year and took to Twitter to share the announcement.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

“Congratulations to @ArethaFranklin and her family and friends. #Pulitzer #QueenOfSoul #Respect.”