On this day in 1968, Aretha Franklin earned her first Grammy for Respect

Respect was originally recorded by Otis Redding in 1965, though it was brought to him by a friend and the origins of its writing remain uncertain. Appearing on album Otis Blue, the song was a huge hit for Redding, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Singles Chart.

Aretha heard the song and refashioned it to her own style, adding several phrases and background vocals from her sisters Carolyn and Erma. On Valentines Day of 1967, she sat down at her piano to record the song. Legendary recording engineer Tom Dowd recalls being blown away by the sisters’ addition of the phrase “sock it to me” and Aretha’s idea to add the spelling out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” to the chorus. The song was instantly transformed to a declaration from a strong, independent woman, demanding respect from her partner, and soon became a much bigger hit than Redding’s version, hitting number one on the Billboard Charts.

An unexpected outcome of the song was its transformation to an anthem for civil rights and feminism. Throughout 1967, racial unrest was gripping many American cities, culminating in Detroit’s race riots in July. Respect became an anthem for the movement, as people of colour demanded respect, justice, and equality from the country. It also caught on amongst feminisms, as her version connected with women demanding respect from men in the workplace, the street and at home.

The song’s popularity only surged with these movements, and she earned three Grammy nominations in Best Female Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Recording, Best Rhythm and Blues Recording and Best Female Vocal Performance, taking home the Best Female Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Recording and Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. These would be Franklin’s first Grammy wins, but certainly not the last, as earned another 18 wins from an astounding 44 nominations. She also earned a Legend Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award later in her career. Five of her recordings are also in the Grammy Hall of Fame, including Respect. The song has also kept its political importance, serving as an anthem for the recent “MeToo” and “Black Lives Matter” movements, and it will undoubtedly continue being a powerful song for future movements.