The Weekly Almanac with Tiki Jane August 16, 2026

On this day in 2018, American singer Aretha Franklin, who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s and was known as the “Queen of Soul,” passed away at age 76. On this day in 1977, American singer Elvis Presley, widely recognized as the “King of Rock and Roll,” passed away at age 42 in Memphis Tennessee at his Graceland estate. His sudden passing sent shockwaves across the globe, bringing legions of mourning fans to line the streets of Memphis and gather outside Graceland. Canadian filmmaker James Cameron—who was known for his expansive vision and innovative special-effects movies, notably Titanic and Avatar—was born on this day in 1954. The first issue of Sports Illustrated was released on this day in 1954. By the 1960s, it had became the leading sports magazine in the United States. American baseball legend Babe Ruth passed away at the age of 53 on this day in 1948. Despite his relatively short life, "The Bambino" revolutionized the sport of baseball, setting legendary milestones like his 714 career home runs and becoming one of the inaugural charter members elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936