Hear Aretha Franklin's Unreleased Political Anthem 'Stand Up for Yourself'
The Queen of Soul lives on! “Aretha Franklin was not only the Queen of Soul, but also a civil rights icon and a champion for all Americans’ access to health care,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. “In 2007, AARP worked with Ms. Franklin on an original song, ‘Stand Up for Yourself,’ which was the anthem for what, years later, became the Affordable Care Act.” MARL LENNIHAN/AP/REX/Shutterstock While the original recording was used internally to enliven AARP events, staff and volunteers during the 2008 election, “Now as we reflect on her cultural impact, we realize her message is as powerful today as it was when she created the song for us in 2007,” said Martha Boudreau, AARP Chief Communications and Marketing Officer....