Can two people find lasting love after heartbreak? For Aretha Franklin and Glynn Turman, the answer seemed to be a resounding yes, at least for a time. Their whirlwind romance and subsequent marriage captivated the world, offering a glimpse into the personal life of the Queen of Soul and a respected actor. But beneath the surface of red-carpet appearances and seemingly idyllic family life, complexities simmered, ultimately leading to a parting of ways.
Both Aretha Franklin and Glynn Turman entered their relationship having navigated the challenging waters of previous marriages. Aretha had divorced Ted White in 1969, a relationship marred by allegations of domestic abuse, while Glynn had ended his marriage with Ula M. Walker. When they crossed paths in 1977 at a benefit for the charity Giant Step, neither was actively seeking marriage, yet a spark ignited. Glynn, unable to ignore his growing affection for Aretha, proposed, leading to a wedding that, for Aretha, fulfilled a long-held dream of a storybook ceremony she felt she had missed with her first marriage.
Category | Information |
---|---|
Full Name | Glynn Russell Turman |
Birth Date | January 31, 1946 |
Birth Place | New York, NY |
Occupation | Actor |
Education | High School of the Performing Arts |
Marriages | Ula M. Walker (divorced), Aretha Franklin (April 11, 1978 - divorced 1984), Jo-Ann Allen |
Children | (deceased), Delena Joy, Darryl, Stephanie |
Known For | Roles in "Cooley High," "A Different World," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" |
Website | Glynn Turman Official Website |
The marriage of actor Glynn Turman to Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, occurred on April 11, 1978, at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. The ceremony was a grand affair, a testament to Aretha's desire for the fairytale wedding she had previously foregone. Their meeting had been relatively swift; a chance encounter backstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during a Ben Vereen show in the late 1970s, or perhaps at the Giant Step benefit, depending on the account. One charming anecdote recounts how one of Aretha's sons purportedly grabbed Glynn's attention by exclaiming, "Glynn Turman, my mother loves you!" Regardless of the precise details of their initial meeting, their connection was undeniable.
The union brought significant changes to both their lives. For Aretha, marrying Glynn meant becoming a stepmother to his three children from a previous marriage. She embraced this role, adding another dimension to her already multifaceted life. Glynn, on the other hand, entered a world deeply intertwined with Aretha's musical legacy. He witnessed firsthand the dedication and artistry that cemented her status as a global icon. Their relationship was a blend of two successful individuals from the entertainment industry, navigating the complexities of fame and family.
However, happiness was soon overshadowed by tragedy. Only a year after their wedding, Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, was shot in a domestic incident. He remained in a coma for five years, a period of immense emotional strain for Aretha and her family. He ultimately passed away in 1984. This personal tragedy cast a long shadow over the couple's lives, adding to the pressures that would eventually contribute to their separation.
Despite their initial joy and commitment, the marriage between Aretha and Glynn faced challenges. While they presented a united front in public, tensions began to surface behind the scenes. According to reports, adjusting to being in a supporting role to Aretha's towering career was not easy for Glynn. He had his own established career as an actor, and the dynamic of being "Mr. Aretha Franklin" reportedly created friction. These pressures, coupled with the emotional toll of Reverend Franklin's condition, ultimately proved too much to bear.
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Aretha's return to Michigan from California in 1982 marked a turning point in their relationship. The physical distance exacerbated the existing strains, leading to their separation that same year. The divorce was finalized in 1984, the same year as the passing of Aretha's father. The end of their marriage marked the conclusion of a significant chapter in both their lives, a chapter filled with both joy and sorrow.
Despite the divorce, Aretha and Glynn maintained a close friendship in the years that followed. Their bond transcended the legal dissolution of their marriage, evolving into a deep respect and affection for one another. This enduring connection speaks volumes about the genuine nature of their initial love and their ability to navigate the complexities of life with grace and maturity. They understood the unique challenges they had faced as a couple and chose to preserve the positive aspects of their relationship.
In the final days of Aretha's life, Glynn Turman visited her, a testament to the strength of their enduring friendship. He shared intimate details of their final moments together, revealing the profound connection they still shared. He recounted feeling her strong pulse, a sign of her unwavering spirit and determination to fight until the very end. His presence at her bedside offered comfort and support, a poignant reminder of the love and respect that remained between them.
Glynn Turman saw a side of Aretha that the public rarely glimpsed: a devoted mother to her four sons, Ted White Jr., Clarence Franklin, Kecalf Cunningham, and Edward Franklin. He witnessed her unwavering dedication to her family and the fierce love she had for her children. This intimate perspective allowed him to appreciate the depth of her character and the complexities of her life beyond her iconic persona.
The impact of Aretha Franklin's passing extended far beyond her immediate family and friends. She was a cultural icon whose music resonated with generations. The outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world underscored her significance as an artist and a symbol of strength and resilience. Her legacy continues to inspire and uplift, reminding us of the power of music to transcend boundaries and touch the human spirit.
The love story of Aretha Franklin and Glynn Turman, though ultimately ending in divorce, serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, genuine connection and lasting friendship are possible. Their relationship, marked by both joy and sorrow, offers a glimpse into the complexities of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. They met in early 1977 at a charity event for underprivileged kids in Los Angeles and sealed the relationship barely a year after meeting. By marrying Turman, Franklin became the stepmother of Turmans three children.
Franklin and Turman separated in 1982 after Franklin returned to Michigan from California, and they divorced in 1984. They didnt have children together. However, their relationship was so good that Turman decided to visit Franklin before her passing. Glynn Turman was Arethas second husband. They tied the knot in 1978, a year after meeting.
Turman was an actor and had three children from a previous marriage; Aretha became their stepmother. Later, she married actor Glynn Turman, whom she divorced in 1984. Franklin met Turman, an actor, at a benefit in 1977; the following year, they were married at her fathers church. Turman had three children from a previous marriage, and Franklin became their stepmother.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Reverend Clarence La Vaughan C.L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers Franklin. Growing up in a religious household, Aretha was exposed to gospel music at a young age. Her father, a prominent Baptist preacher, moved the family to Detroit, Michigan, after his marriage ended.
By the late 1970s, Aretha appeared to be happier after finding love with her second husband, actor Glynn Turman, and left Atlantic Records for a new deal with Clive Davis' Arista Records. Franklin was married to Ted White from 1961 to 1969, and then remarried Glynn Turman, to whom she was with from 1978 to 1984. Glynn Turman was Arethas second husband.
They were engaged in March 1978. Because she and Ted White had basically run off to marry, Aretha felt that she had missed out on a storybook wedding." Getty Aretha and Glynn met backstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during a Ben Vereen show in the late 1970s. The couple was introduced by one of Aretha's sons, when he reportedly grabbed Glynn's attention by saying: Glynn Turman, my mother loves you!
Actor Glynn Turman married Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, in 1978. Though their marriage only lasted for six years, the two remained friends even after their split. Turman visited Franklin on her last day and shared about their final moments together. I was able to feel her pulse, which was strong. So she was fighting till the very end."
In exclusively speaking to People, Glynn Turman opened up about his fond memories with Aretha. This is the content that appears when you hover over the text. The same year her father died, Franklin divorced Glynn Turman, her second husband, whom she married in 1978. According to Rolling Stone, there had already been tension between Franklin and Turman, since he was an actor, and adjusting to second place behind Franklin hadn't been easy for him.
However, for many, the abrupt separation in 1982 and the subsequent divorce were surprising. Actor Glynn Turman was married and had three kids from his six years of marriage to Ula M. Walker before he married Franklin in 1978. She then married her second husband, actor Glynn Turman, on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children from a previous marriage.
How Aretha Franklin survived domestic abuse in her first marriage. Glynn Turmans final visit with Aretha Franklin was full of love. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. Not only was Franklin surrounded by her family members, she was visited by famous friends like Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, and her second husband, Glynn Turman. Glynn Turman and Aretha Franklin were married for 6 years.
Early on in her career, she was hit by the tabloids. There were stories of her being a victim of domestic abuse. Turman saw a side of Franklin, a mother to four sons (Ted White Jr., 54, Clarence Franklin, 63, Kecalf Cunningham, 48, and Edward Franklin, 61), that the public did not always see.
Turman has been married three times and has four children. Aretha Franklin was married to Glynn Turman for six years. A few years after she divorced her first husband in 1969, Franklin met actor Glynn Turman backstage at a show in California. Despite their long association, the two never married. After their split, Franklin went on to marry Glynn Turman in 1978.


