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NEWS ABOUT: Aretha Franklin

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Aretha Franklin Calls Off Her Wedding

Singer worried relationship was moving too fast

(AP) - Aretha Franklin won't be getting fitted for a wedding gown after all: She's called off her engagement . A statement released yesterday by her rep said Franklin's wedding to Willie Wilkerson wasn't going to happen. "Will and I have decided we were moving a little too... More »

Aretha: I'm Getting Married

Singer says she's ready to marry longtime boyfriend Willie Wilkerson

(Newser) - The Queen of Soul says she's ready to be an honest woman. Aretha Franklin tells the AP in a statement today that she's getting married to longtime beau Willie Wilkerson. And stop the speculation right now: "No, I'm not pregnant," the 69-year-old jokes. The marriage,... More »

Aretha Franklin: I Don't Have Pancreatic Cancer

Queen of Soul got get-well letter from President Obama

(Newser) - Aretha Franklin says she does not have pancreatic cancer, contrary to earlier reports . The legendary singer tells Access Hollywood that she did have a health issue that required surgery but isn't ready to go into specifics about it. She did, however, pass along this from her doctor: He said, ‘... More »

Please Get Well, Aretha Franklin

Bob Herbert has a suggestion for a holiday toast

(Newser) - Bob Herbert sends up a Christmas wish this morning for Aretha Franklin, who's reportedly ill with pancreatic cancer . He recalls first hearing her voice—"the most gifted of an era"—on her seminal I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You album, which provided solace in... More »

Aretha Franklin Has Cancer: Relative

Surgery was for pancreatic tumor, says National Enquirer

(Newser) - The undisclosed illness that required Aretha Franklin to undergo surgery last week is cancer, a relative tells Fox 2 News In Detroit . The 68-year-old singer abruptly canceled shows last month on doctors' orders but didn't give specifics on why. The National Enquirer says the cancer is pancreatic, notes PopCrunch . Click... More »

Aretha Franklin's Son Hospitalized After Beating

Eddie Franklin beaten badly by younger men, woman

(Newser) - Aretha Franklin’s son Eddie is undergoing emergency surgery today, after being brutally beaten at a gas station in Detroit last night. Franklin, 52, was attacked by two men and a woman, the Detroit News reports. An unidentified bystander, an acquaintance of Franklin's, came forward to take him to the... More »

Aretha, Condi Duet in Concert

Unlikely pair comes together for music education

(Newser) - One is the face of the George W. Bush administration; the other a staunch Democrat and the Queen of Soul. Nonetheless, Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin came together last night in a performance raising money for music education. Both performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Music Center, but... More »

Aretha & Condi Playing Charity Gig

Bipartisan duo to share stage at concert for inner-city kids

(Newser) - The Queen of Soul will team up with the "Warrior Princess" of the Bush administration at a charity concert next month. Aretha Franklin—a Democrat—will sing "Say a Little Prayer" and "Natural Woman" as classically trained pianist Condoleezza Rice—not a Democrat—plays, the New York ... More »

Obama Foreign Policy Takes Cue From Aretha

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

(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 »

Activists Hit 'Fur-Hag' Aretha's Star

Activists dub celebs 'fur hags'

(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 »

Everyone Wants Aretha's Hat

(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 »

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

(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 »

Aretha, Rick Warren on Tap for Inauguration Day

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

(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 »

Greatest Singer Ever: Aretha

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

(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 »

Divas Renew Royal Rumble

(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 »

Music Giant Jerry Wexler Dead at 91

(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 »

Duffy Latest to Give Motown a UK Twist

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

(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 »

Aretha Sings Foreclosure Blues

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

(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 »

PETA Bristles at 'Cruel' Aretha

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

(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 »

Aretha to Beyonce: I Am Queen

Queen of Soul slams 'cheap shot' at Grammys

(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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