Aretha Franklin will soon go from spelling out R-E-S-P-E-C-T, to easing into R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T. That’s right, the legendary soul singer that’s voice is as distinctive and untouchable as they come, will soon be hanging up her microphone.

During a new interview with WDIV Local 4 in Detroit, Franklin said: “I am retiring this year. I will be recording, but this will be my last in concert year. This is it.”

Franklin, who will turn 75 on March 25, went on to explain that as she steps away from the stage for good, there is an internal appreciation for how her remarkable career has turned out.

“I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from and where it is now,” noted Franklin. “I’ll be pretty much satisfied, but I’m not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn’t be good either.”

To avoid sitting down and doing nothing, Franklin is working on a new album this year. She has described it as “kind of multi-[directional]” and not stylistically “pigeonholed.”

Helping to make this album a reality is the one-and-only Stevie Wonder: “Of course, several of the songs are going to be produced by Stevie,” relayed Franklin. “There’s only one Stevie, right?”

Franklin’s latest studio album, “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics”, came out in 2014 and features covers of songs most notably performed by Adele, Gloria Gaynor and Chaka Khan.

In 1987, Franklin became the first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Click here to view Franklin’s 2017 tour schedule.

-Adam Grant

As part of Black History Month, VisionTV will be showcasing a number of inspirational music programs including the inspirational “Songs of Freedom with Measha Brueggergosman” documentary, plus the performance series, “Gospel to Go.” Click here for our full Black History Month programming schedule.