Aretha Franklin Retiring This Year: 'This Is It'

Aretha Franklin told Detroit's Local 4 (via EW) that she's ready to hang it up in 2017. "I must tell you, I am retiring this year," the 74-year-old Queen of Soul said. "This will be my last year. I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert. This is it."

Aretha is looking to spend more time with her college-bound grandchildren. She told the TV station the choice to retire is bittersweet, as "it's what I've done all of my life." But she feels "exuberant" about her next record, which will consist entirely of original songs and potentially release in September. The supporting tour will feature just one show per month and will run for "maybe six months."