Aretha Franklin, Detroit MI, 1996. Aretha is something else. On one hand, she’s the Queen of Soul, and you’re in awe of her. But on the other hand, she’s totally out of her mind—in the most amazing, endearing way. She is a force of nature, and working with her was always unforgettable.We met at the legendary Fox Theatre in Detroit, where she was performing. The place was dripping with opulence—velvet curtains, gilded details, the works. Aretha arrived in this pink, voluminous gown—she always styled herself, somewhere between a Vegas showgirl and Folies Bergère—she had a vision, and it was iconic.She changed out of the gown and into a trench coat, and we headed out of the theater to shoot at her house. It was 100 degrees outside. I noticed a man atop a 50-foot ladder putting the letters up on the theater marquee, and I knew I needed to get that shot. I told her my vision and she replied, “But I’m not wearing anything underneath this coat.” I climbed right up, looking down at her commanding the street. She owned every moment, standing there in that coat—with nothing underneath—and somehow made it feel completely natural, like it was the most logical outfit choice for the day.When we got back to the house she immediately changed into this massive wig. We got some shots and sat down for BBQ for lunch. She kept the wig on the entire time. Every frame with Aretha was pure magic—you never knew what to expect, but she always delivered.
