The final wishes of Aretha Franklin are still being contested five years after her death. Two of her sons, Edward and Kecalf, are arguing that a handwritten will dated 2014 is the valid will, not the one dated 2010.
The 2014 will names Kecalf as the executor of the estate and gives him control of Franklin's home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The 2010 will names Ted White II, Franklin's third son, as co-executor and gives him a share of the royalties from her music.
A jury will decide which will is valid. The case is scheduled to go to trial on July 11, 2023.
The two wills differ in several ways. The 2014 will gives Kecalf Franklin control of his mother's home, while the 2010 will gives Clarence Franklin, the eldest son, a share of the royalties from her music. The 2014 will also names Sabrina Owens, Franklin's niece, as an executor of the estate. Owens resigned as co-executor in 2020 after the dispute over the wills arose.
The case is being closely watched by fans of Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul was a beloved figure in the music industry, and her estate is worth millions of dollars. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the lives of her four sons.
"This is a very personal case for my family," said Edward Franklin. "We are simply trying to uphold our mother's wishes."
"We believe that the 2014 will is the valid will," said Kecalf Franklin. "It is the most recent will that our mother signed, and it reflects her final wishes."
Ted White II declined to comment on the case.
The trial is expected to last several weeks. A decision is not expected until later this year.
In the meantime, the legacy of Aretha Franklin continues to live on. Her music has inspired generations of singers, and her story is a testament to the power of the human spirit.