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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin stories: 14 news summaries
OPINION

 Obama Foreign Policy Takes 
 Cue From Aretha 

US is right to show some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, says Rachman

Mar 10, 09 9:04 AM CDT
(Newser) - Aretha Franklin gave a roaring performance at Barack Obama's inauguration in January—and maybe, writes Gideon Rachman, she's had a bit of influence on his foreign policy. "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" has been the guiding principle for the new administration's rhetoric and engagements with Iran, Iraq, Russia, and China. Neocons might see... More »

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China • Russia • Barack Obama • US foreign policy • foreign policy • Aretha Franklin • Bill Maher • Obama administration • Bill Maher Grid


 Activists Hit 
 'Fur-Hag' 
 Aretha's Star 

Activists dub celebs 'fur hags'

Jan 27, 09 10:36 AM CST
(Newser) - January has not been kind to the queen of soul. First Aretha Franklin was mocked for her ginormous inauguration hat, and now her Walk of Fame star has been vandalized, Perez Hilton reports. Anti-fur activists scrawled “Fur Hag” across her star in Hollywood after doing the same thing to... More »

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Hollywood • fur • celebrity • vandalism • Aretha Franklin • activist • Mary-Kate Olsen • Ashley Olsen

(Newser) - Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat has been mercilessly mocked by some, but lots of people want one of their very own. The Detroit millinery where Franklin has been a customer for 20 years has been flooded with calls for orders, the AP reports. But Aretha wannabes soon learn that the... More »

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Barack Obama • fashion • celebrity • hats • Aretha Franklin • inauguration • Inauguration Day • inaugural events

Aretha: World Will Be Dancing in the Streets

Diva fired up to give Obama R-E-S-P-E-C-T at biggest gig of her life

Jan 20, 09 8:38 AM CST
(Newser) - Aretha Franklin is psyched to sing to the biggest audience of her life in Washington today, she tells the Times of London. When she thinks of Obama she thinks of "jubilation all over the world," the Queen of Soul says. "Dancing in Africa, dancing in London, dancing... More »

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Barack Obama • Washington DC • Aretha Franklin • singer • inauguration • President Obama • Inauguration Day

Aretha, Rick Warren on Tap for Inauguration Day

John Williams will compose new music for Obama's landmark occasion

Dec 17, 08 3:47 PM CST
(Newser) - Aretha Franklin will participate in Barack Obama’s inauguration next month, the New York Times reports, with the Queen of Soul hitting the stage after evangelical leader Rick Warren gives the invocation. Obama has also commissioned composer John Williams to write a new piece of music for the ceremony—to... More »

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Barack Obama • Aretha Franklin • inauguration • Rick Warren • President Obama • Inauguration Day • Yo-Yo Ma • President-elect Obama • John Williams • Itzhak Perlman

 Greatest Singer Ever: Aretha 

Poll of musicians, industry insiders choose Franklin as most worthy of R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Nov 13, 08 10:18 AM CST
(Newser) - Aretha Franklin isn't just the Queen of Soul, she's the greatest singer of all time, according to a new Rolling Stone poll of critics, musicians, and industry leaders. Her heavenly voice is "a gift from God," says Mary J. Blige. "Aretha has everything—the power, the technique,... More »

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Bob Dylan • Rolling Stone • John Lennon • celebrity • Elvis Presley • Aretha Franklin • singer • James Brown • Stevie Wonder • Sam Cooke • Mary J. Blige • Ray Charles • Marvin Gaye • Otis Redding

 Divas Renew Royal Rumble 




Oct 10, 08 3:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Aretha Franklin-Tina Turner feud has taken another dissonant turn, USA Today reports. Beyoncé referred to Turner as "the queen" at the Grammy Awards—yes, that was 8 months ago—and Turner stirred things up again last week, saying: "There were so many kings and queens there... More »

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celebrity • feud • Aretha Franklin • Beyonce • Grammy Awards • Tina Turner • Queen of Soul

(Newser) - Jerry Wexler, a music industry giant who coined the term "rhythm and blues" and worked to bring black popular music into the mainstream, died today at age 91, the New York Times reports. Wexler, a producer at Atlantic Records in its heyday, worked with new artists such as Aretha... More »

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music • music industry • obituary • Aretha Franklin • soul • Ray Charles • rhythm and blues • Jerry Wexler • Wilson Pickett

 Duffy Latest to Give
 Motown a UK Twist 

Welsh import, following Winehouse et al., makes US TV blitz this week

May 12, 08 12:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - A 23-year-old Welsh singer is the latest in a wave of pop artists—female, British ones—to channel 1960s Motown, the Wall Street Journal reports. Duffy, who storms the US this week with TV talk-show appearances and a performance at the Apollo tonight, is already a hit across Europe, her... More »

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music • Amy Winehouse • Aretha Franklin • Wales • soul • Motown • Duffy • Apollo Theater • Rockferry

 Aretha Sings Foreclosure Blues 

Lawyer's $445 tax mistake puts Franklin's Detroit pad at risk

Mar 13, 08 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - Aretha Franklin’s mansion is in foreclosure after the Queen of Soul flubbed her taxes, TMZ.com reports. Franklin owes $19,192 in back taxes, but she says she’ll pay before the March 31 deadline. The singer faults her lawyer for a 2005 mistake over $445 in taxes and... More »

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music • taxes • Detroit • foreclosure • celebrity • lawyer • Aretha Franklin • Queen of Soul • mansion • late fees

PETA Bristles at 'Cruel' Aretha

Queen of Soul joins Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan on group's worst-dressed list

Feb 21, 08 8:11 AM CST
(Newser) - The Queen of Soul's fondness for fur means she isn't getting any R-E-S-P-E-C-T from PETA, Access Hollywood reports. Aretha Franklin has topped the animal rights organization's latest worst-dressed list after wearing a fur coat to the Grammys. "Music lovers may think of you as a 'queen,' but to... More »

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fashion • Lindsay Lohan • Eva Longoria • fur • celebrity • animal rights • PETA • Kate Moss • Aretha Franklin • leather • Marilyn Manson • Kylie Minogue

Aretha to Beyonce: I Am Queen

Queen of Soul slams 'cheap shot' at Grammys

Feb 13, 08 8:12 AM CST
(Newser) - R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means, Beyonce. That's the message "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin fired off after baby-diva Beyonce introduced singer Tina Turner as "the queen" at the Grammys. Turner is sometimes called the queen of rock 'n' roll, but Franklin wasn't having it. "I am... More »

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celebrity • Aretha Franklin • Beyonce • Grammy Awards • Tina Turner • Queen of Soul

Sam Cooke Sang, and a Change Came

Library of Congress enshrines late singer's protest anthem

Dec 17, 07 11:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Sam Cooke had his fair share of hits, but he didn't live to see the success of his masterpiece, the protest song “A Change is Gonna Come.” Now that it’s been enshrined at the Library of Congress, NPR takes a look at the civil rights anthem and... More »

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music • Bob Dylan • Library of Congress • Aretha Franklin • Sam Cooke • Blowin' in the Wind • A Change is Gonna Come • civil rights movement

Williams Sisters' Matches Kick Off US Open

First-round matches part of tribute to first black Grand Slam champion

Aug 27, 07 5:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - When the US Open kicks off today, Serena and Venus Williams will play their first-round matches immediately following an opening tribute to the first black Grand Slam champion, Althea Gibson. The 50th anniversary of the first US Open title won by the "Jackie Robinson of tennis," who died... More »

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tennis • Wimbledon • Serena Williams • US Open • Venus Williams • Althea Gibson • Grand Slam • Aretha Franklin • US Open Tennis • women's tennis

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