Aretha Ousts Carolyn From Sparkle

In 1975, Carolyn Franklin, Aretha Franklin's younger sister and a songwriter who had penned several hits for her, got what looked like a breakthrough when producer Curtis Mayfield asked her to sing on the soundtrack for the film Sparkle. After Aretha heard Mayfield's unfinished songs, she stepped in, and following an intervention by their father, Carolyn was forced off the project and replaced by Aretha on the recordings. Sparkle went Top 20 with Aretha's vocals, and although Carolyn was devastated, she later admitted that her sister really did sing those songs better than anyone else could have.

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