Aretha Franklin: When were you happiest?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Aretha Franklin said elsewhere, not written here

Right here, right now.

Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, November 2003 source ↗

Others on this question

Clara Amfo Broadcaster

When I was 11 and we got Sky TV.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 29 August 2020 source ↗

Toyah Willcox English singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter

Between 2007 and 2016, I had a large white rabbit called WillyFred. I was happiest pressing my ear to his fur and hearing his heart beat.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2019 source ↗

Nadine Gordimer South African writer

Camping in the bushveld with my man.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 March 2012 source ↗

Abigail Breslin American actress

Christmas 2007 – I got hair straighteners.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 January 2014 source ↗

My lips are sealed.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, November 2003 source ↗

It’s never going to be absolutely perfect. There will always be something you would change if you could.

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 November 2003 source ↗

My weight, but I’m working on it. I will return!

Recorded The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, 1 November 2003 source ↗

Search the directory for somebody in particular.