Bill Cosby Thanks Aretha Franklin for 'A Different World' Theme Song, Playing Her Music After Death

Bill Cosby believes Aretha Franklin was one of the reasons his show "A Different World" was so successful, and he's paying homage to the Queen of Soul after her passing.

A rep for Cosby tells The Blast, "I want to thank her for her wonderful voice singing the theme song of 'A Different World,'" adding, "She made a big, strong positive impact on that series."

Franklin not only sang the theme song for many seasons of the popular "Cosby Show" spinoff but her ex-husband, Glynn Turman, was a regular character on the sitcom.

As for how Cosby is remembering Franklin from his home in Philadelphia, he is currently "playing a cut from her CD – the title of the song is 'Wholy Holy' – and she’s live in a church."

Cosby gives his final send off to Franklin, "Bon Voyage."

Aretha passed away at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.

!youtube-embed(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXaz7cLkWtw)