Queen of soul Aretha Franklin is said to be "gravely ill" following a long bout of cancer.

Family have gathered around her beside to give their goodbyes, appealing for privacy and prayers from the public. She is currently resting in her home in Detroit.

The 76 year old made her last performance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation party in November. She was said to have been "fighting exhaustion and dehydration”.

The singer is best known for her hits such as "Respect", "Think", and "You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman").

In March, her management released a statement saying that "Aretha Franklin had been ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest completely for at least the next two months".