The Four Sons Of Aretha Franklin: How The 'Couch Will' Finally Ended A Five-Year Battle For The Queen Of Soul's $80 Million Estate

Few legacies in music history rival that of Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul. Yet, since her passing in August 2018, the story of her family has been dominated not by her iconic songs like "Respect" and "A Natural Woman," but by a complex, five-year legal saga over her multi-million dollar estate. The core of this dramatic chapter involves her four adult sons, each a musician in his own right, whose lives and futures were tied up in two separate, handwritten documents—one found in a locked cabinet, the other, famously, under a sofa cushion.

As of late 2023, this lengthy and often contentious dispute reached a definitive conclusion, providing the most current and crucial update on the Franklin family's affairs. The resolution, delivered by a Michigan jury, finally determined the fate of the singer's assets, including her valuable real estate and musical catalog, and, most importantly, solidified the individual inheritances for her four children: Clarence, Edward, Ted, and Kecalf.

Aretha Franklin's Four Sons: A Complete Biography and Profile

Aretha Franklin was a fiercely private mother who raised four sons, all of whom inherited her deep connection to music. Their lives, spanning decades of the Queen of Soul's career, are inextricably linked to her legacy, yet each has carved out a distinct path, from gospel singing to rock and roll guitar. The following is a detailed profile of Aretha Franklin's children in birth order, including their latest public and professional updates.

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• Clarence Franklin (Born 1955)
  • Father: Donald Burke (Disputed, father's identity has been a private matter)
  • Current Age: Approximately 70
  • Details: Clarence is Aretha Franklin's eldest son, born when the singer was just 12 years old. He has special needs and lives in an assisted living facility in Michigan, a situation that has always been the subject of his mother's deepest concern and care. He remains largely uninvolved in the public aspects of the estate dispute, represented by a court-appointed guardian.
• Edward Franklin (Born 1957)
  • Father: Edward Jordan Sr.
  • Current Age: Approximately 68
  • Details: Edward is a talented gospel singer, following directly in the footsteps of his mother and grandfather, C.L. Franklin. He performed duets with his mother and contributed vocals to her albums. In the recent legal battle, he sided with his younger brother, Kecalf, advocating for the validity of the 2014 will.
• Ted White Jr. (Professionally known as Teddy Richards) (Born 1964)
  • Father: Ted White Sr. (Aretha Franklin's first husband and former manager)
  • Current Age: Approximately 61
  • Details: Known professionally as Teddy Richards, he is a gifted guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He served as a long-time member of his mother's touring band, often playing guitar for her live shows for over 25 years. A recent venture includes the launch of "THINK RADIO" globally on Live365, showcasing his continued involvement in the music industry. During the will dispute, he was the primary advocate for the 2010 handwritten will.
• Kecalf Cunningham (Also known as Kecalf Franklin) (Born 1970)
  • Father: Ken Cunningham (Aretha Franklin's former manager)
  • Current Age: Approximately 55
  • Details: Kecalf is the youngest of the Franklin sons. He is a gospel singer, songwriter, and rapper who has actively pursued his own career, with albums and songs like "Seasons Change." He was the main proponent, along with Edward, for the 2014 "couch will," as it granted him ownership of the most valuable family asset.

The Shocking Discovery and the Five-Year Will Dispute Resolution

When Aretha Franklin passed away in 2018, it was initially believed she had died intestate—without a will. This meant that, under Michigan intestacy law, her estimated $80 million estate would be divided equally among her four sons. However, months later, two separate handwritten, or "holographic," wills were discovered in her Bloomfield Hills home, plunging the family into a bitter and public legal conflict that lasted for half a decade.

The first document, dated 2010, was found in a locked cabinet. The second, dated 2014, was found tucked under the cushions of a sofa. The two wills offered different directives, particularly regarding the distribution of the singer's most valuable assets, including her properties and the rights to her extensive musical catalog.

The dispute pitted the sons against each other: Ted White Jr. (Teddy Richards) argued that the 2010 will was the valid document, while Edward Franklin and Kecalf Cunningham insisted the 2014 document, despite its unconventional location, represented their mother’s final wishes.

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The resolution finally came in July 2023, when a Michigan jury in Oakland County Probate Court ruled that the 2014 handwritten will was, in fact, the valid and controlling document. This landmark verdict not only ended the prolonged legal drama but also set a crucial precedent for the validity of handwritten wills in the state of Michigan.

How the Validated 2014 Will Divided the Queen of Soul's Assets

The 2014 "couch will" provided a clear, though unequal, distribution of Aretha Franklin’s real estate and other assets, offering a window into her final intentions for her children. The jury's decision in 2023 meant that the specific provisions outlined in this document would be enacted, moving the estate closer to its final settlement.

A significant outcome of the ruling was the inheritance of the most valuable property. The will designated the singer's primary residence, the luxurious Bloomfield Hills home, to her youngest son, Kecalf Franklin (Cunningham). This property, which a lawyer described as the estate's "crown jewel," was initially valued at over $1.1 million, solidifying Kecalf's position in the estate's final distribution.

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While the 2010 will would have split the estate's total value equally, the 2014 will, which was validated, ensured a more specific division of assets, including the ownership of various parcels of real estate and the proceeds from previously sold properties, which were divided among the other sons.

Clarence Franklin's Dedicated Provisions

A central concern throughout the entire estate battle was the well-being of Aretha’s eldest son, Clarence, who requires lifelong special care. The 2014 will was particularly important because it explicitly included specific arrangements for Clarence’s financial security. The document detailed a trust or similar structure to ensure a steady stream of income and support for his assisted living and medical needs, differentiating his inheritance from the direct property awards given to his brothers.

This provision highlights Aretha Franklin's enduring commitment as a mother, ensuring that her son with special needs would be cared for, regardless of the legal wrangling over the remainder of her fortune. The implementation of these guardianship arrangements and financial safeguards was a key step toward the final closure of the estate.

The Musical Legacy That Binds the Franklin Brothers

Beyond the legal battles and the distribution of the estate, the four Franklin brothers share an undeniable bond through music. Aretha Franklin ensured that her sons were immersed in the world of gospel, soul, and R&B, and each has pursued a musical career in some capacity, carrying forward the family's artistic heritage.

• Teddy Richards: The Touring Musician
  Teddy Richards's career is marked by his direct collaboration with his mother, serving as her trusted guitarist on tour for decades. His work as a singer/songwriter/producer continues today, and his recent launch of THINK RADIO demonstrates his pivot toward the business and curation side of the music industry.
• Edward Franklin: The Gospel Voice
  Edward Franklin has focused on gospel music, a genre that was the bedrock of his mother's own career, which began in the New Bethel Baptist Church under the guidance of her father, the Reverend C.L. Franklin. Edward's performances, including duets with his mother, keep the spiritual side of the Franklin legacy alive.
• Kecalf Cunningham: The Modern Artist
  Kecalf, the youngest, has embraced a more contemporary sound, blending gospel with songwriting and rapping. His albums, such as *Seasons Change*, show an artist building his own path while honoring the foundation of soul music he inherited.

The resolution of the will dispute in 2023 finally allows the four sons to move past the courtroom drama and fully focus on preserving and celebrating the cultural and musical impact of Aretha Franklin. The final chapter of the estate battle, marked by the validation of the 2014 will, is a powerful reminder of the importance of clear estate planning, even for a legend whose voice was one of the clearest in history.