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Watch a Trailer for The Long-Delayed Aretha Franklin Concert Film 'Amazing Grace'
Watch a Trailer for The Long-Delayed Aretha Franklin Concert Film 'Amazing Grace'

Aretha Franklin Wins Pulitzer Prize For Her "Contribution to American Music"

Producer of Aretha Franklin's 'Amazing Grace' Doc Claims She Was Never Paid Source: Amazing Grace trailer

Franklin is the first woman to win a Special Citation Pulitzer.

On Monday, April 15th, the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced. The big surprise was that Aretha Franklin, who passed away in August, won a Pulitzer Prize. This comes a year after Kendrick Lamar won the award for his landmark DAMN. album.

HEAR: Aretha Did It Better: 12 Classics Transformed (and Owned) by The Queen of Soul [Playlist]

Franklin was honored with a Special Citation Pulitzer. She is the first woman to earn a Special Citation award. (The prize first awarded in 1930.) The last time someone won a Special Citation was when country music legend Hank Williams won it in 2010.

READ: From Yasiin Bey To Outkast: 10 Rap Songs That Sampled Aretha Franklin

Pulitzer says they awarded Franklin for her "contributions to American music and culture."

H/T: Pitchfork