::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Founder and Chairperson of Urban One, Inc., Cathy Hughes, a radio legend and close friend to Aretha Franklin who worked with and interviewed Franklin many times over the years, issued a statement of her sincerest condolences to Franklin's family, friends and colleagues upon receiving news of Franklin's passing.  Below are excerpts from Hughes' statement, click  here  to view in it's entirety. (From Left to Right) Media maven, Cathy Hughes and the "Queen Of Soul" Aretha Franklin during the taping of TV One On One. (Courtesy of TV One) "Today I join my community, my industry and the world in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of my dear sister, friend, and ally, Aretha Franklin. I send my love and offer prayers of grace and peace to the members of her family, her friends and colleagues who walked alongside her and shared her with tens of millions of fans around the world. I...

America has no royalty.  But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring.   Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father’s congregation.  For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine.  Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience.  In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.  She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human.  And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.   Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all.  May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace.  Michelle and I send our prayers and ...