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( 4 stories between 14th November 2008 and 6th November 2010 )Ailing Aretha Franklin Cancels Tour
Nov, 6 2010
Aretha Franklin has canceled all of her concerts for the next six months due to unspecified health problems. The 68 year old soul legend was released from Detroit’s Sinai Grace Hospital last week after a short stay, and now says doctors have warned her of performing in the near future.
"The award winning songstress sends her sincerest apologies to her loyal followers and colleagues for the canceled shows," a statement released by her publicist said. "Ms. Franklin is resting comfortably at home, but is very anxious to get back on the road to perform for her countless fans around the world."
In August, Aretha had to cancel two concerts after breaking a couple of ribs in a fall. Now she won’t be able to perform until next May, at the earliest. "I would like to thank my friends, fans and supporters for all the beautiful flowers and their many well wishes," she said.
Mutual R.E.S.P.E.C.T. in Philadelphia
Jul, 29 2010
It’s certainly an unusual pairing, but reigning Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin joined forces with former Presidential Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice to play a high-grossing charity gig on Tuesday night.
Aretha sang -- of course -- and Condoleezza accompanied her on the piano. Franklin’s powerful vocal abilities are well known, but less known is the fact that Rice’s ivory-tickling is a testament to her pre-political days as a classical pianist. Indeed, she was keen to assure “Good Morning America” audiences that music has long been a crucial part of her life, "music has always been a part of me," she said, "I was 3 years old when I started playing the piano, and so I don't remember life without music."
The Philadelphia gig was in support of an inner city music education charity, and raised almost $600,000. However, there’s no word on whether the ladies intend to repeat the exercise, as Aretha has her schedule full with preparations to release a genre-shifting album of classical music, which will be her first studio release since 2003’s So Damn Happy.
Aretha Franklin
Dec, 19 2008
When you're the incoming President of the United States of America (and Time Magazine's "Person of the Year", no less), you can get just about anyone you want to sing for your inauguration. So why not go for the very best? Aretha Franklin, who last month was nominated as the greatest singer of the rock era by Rolling Stone magazine (and who can really argue with that?), has been booked by Barack Obama to perform at his January 20th swearing-in ceremony. The 66 year-old 'Queen of Soul' has an abundance of classic songs in her back catalog, such as "I Say a Little Prayer", "Respect" and "Rock Steady", but it's not yet been revealed what she plans to sing. Also on hand at the event will be world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman, who will perform a new work by John Williams (best known for composing the Star Wars theme), along with pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill.
