Reaction to the death of soul icon Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday:

"This morning my longest friend in this world went home to be with our father. I will miss her so much but I know she's at peace." — Smokey Robinson, in a statement.

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"It's difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world." — Barbra Streisand, via Twitter.

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"A national treasure to everyone. But to me personally, Aretha Franklin was my dear, dear friend, my homegirl, and I loved her a lot. From seeing her as a baby singing and playing at the piano at her father's home, to her giving a rousing performance at the White House, she has always been amazing. No matter how the music has changed over the years, she remained so relevant." — Berry Gordy, in a statement.

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"What a life. What a legacy! So much love, respect and gratitude. R.I.P." — Carole King, via Twitter.

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"I'm absolutely devastated by Aretha's passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness." — Clive Davis, in a statement.

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"Aretha was such a timeless inspiration to me and so many others, the ultimate queen, thank you for the gift of your voice, music and unshakeable soul." — Christina Aguilera, via Twitter.

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"Her voice; her presence; her style

No one did it better

Truly the Queen of Soul

I will miss you!" — Lionel Richie, in a statement.

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"Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I've ever known." — John Legend, via Twitter.

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"The loss of Aretha Franklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music: Music from the heart, the soul and the Church. Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated — she was one of my favorite pianists." — Elton John, via Instagram.

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"I'm sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit Aretha Franklin." — Diana Ross, via Twitter.

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"From the time that Dinah Washington first told me that Aretha was the 'next one' when she was 12-years old until the present day, Aretha Franklin set the bar upon which every female singer has and will be measured. And she did it with the professionalism, class, grace and humility that only a true Queen could. I treasured every moment that we spent together from working in the recording studio, to performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, or simply hanging in the kitchen, and I will miss her dearly. RIP Ree-Ree. You will reign as the Queen forever." — Quincy Jones, in a statement.

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"Today the world has experienced a tremendous loss. Aretha was a rare treasure whose unmatched musical genius helped craft the soundtrack to the lives of so many." — Patti LaBelle, via Twitter.

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"One of the highlights of my career was singing with #ArethaFranklin at The Tony Awards. It was an out of body experience for me. One of greatest singers of all time. You will be missed by all." — Hugh Jackman, via Twitter.

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"For more than 50 years, she stirred our souls. She was elegant, graceful, and utterly uncompromising in her artistry. Aretha's first music school was the church and her performances were powered by what she learned there. I'll always be grateful for her kindness and support, including her performances at both my inaugural celebrations, and for the chance to be there for what sadly turned out to be her final performance last November at a benefit supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS. She will forever be the Queen of Soul and so much more to all who knew her personally and through her music. Our hearts go out to her family and her countless fans." — Bill Clinton, in a statement.

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"Feeling overwhelmingly sad. Thank you Aretha Franklin for the gift of your voice and your soul. Rest in peace." — Lester Holt, via Twitter.

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"Lucky enough to have seen Aretha live exactly once, and this was it. Thank you for the music, we will be listening to you forever." — Lin-Manuel Miranda, via Twitter.

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"Aretha Franklin was simply peerless. She has reigned supreme, and will always be held in the highest firmament of stars as the most exceptional vocalist, performer and recording artist the world has ever been privileged to witness." — Annie Lennox, via Twitter.

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"Let's all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many, many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever." — Paul McCartney, via Twitter.

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"Deeply saddened by the passing of a beloved friend and queen/warrior Aretha Franklin. Her contributions are legendary both personally and societally. We hope you take a pause today to remember the life of a beautiful soul." — The Rev. Al Sharpton, via Twitter.

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"Aretha Franklin — I want to thank her for her wonderful voice singing the theme song of 'A Different World.' She made a big, strong positive impact on that series. I am playing a cut from her CD — the title of the song is 'Wholy Holy' — and she's live in a church. Bon Voyage." — Bill Cosby, in a statement.

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For more, visit https://apnews.com/tag/ArethaFranklin