Aretha criticizes Beyonce's Grammy intro

Soul legend Aretha Franklin dismissed the intro Beyonce gave to Tina Turner on Sunday night's Grammy Awards as a "cheap shot for controversy." Before announcing Turner, Beyonce performed a weird little spoken-word tribute to great R&B and soul singers, and listed Franklin second, only after Sarah Vaughn.

But right before Turner takes over and rescues the routine, Beyonce introduces her as "the Queen," a designation long-belonging to Franklin. The AP story quotes a statement from Franklin:

"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce," Franklin snapped in a statement issued by her publicist. "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."

Re-visit the clip below. I can think of plenty of reasons to question it, but the AP story raises its own questions. Did someone specifically ask Franklin if she felt slighted by Beyonce's Turner intro, or was this an unprompted statement just released to certain members of the press? (Calls to a Franklin rep were not returned late Tuesday.)

Weird. An odd Grammy moment inspires an odd controversy.

Comments

[Y'AAAAALLLLLLLL]

go have a bucket of greasy extra skinned chicken girrrrrrrrl and shuuuuuuuutttt uuuuupppppp, snap snap snap

[Patsy Burton]

To Aretha, Tina, and Beyonce:

You three are musical/rhythmic miracles, and I, a skinny, pale girl, can give you a bit of a run if I first watch you one time. Ha! But---we all don't hold candles to Etta James in that special with Chuck Berry that I saw on VH1.
So let's me humbled and grateful that she set a precedence(sp?) for all of us "queens". Now, come on, girls and me--In that number with Chuck Berry, rhythm and talent oozed from every cell in her body, and I've never seen better than that! Have you?

[RBBrittain]

Here's a few stones for Aretha's glass house: The Queen of Soul is WAY. TOO. BIG.

I'm big myself, and I'm all for size when it works (JHud's just fine, thank you), but Aretha is starting to look like "American Idol" auditioner Temptresse Browne's mother whose 600 pounds confines her to a wheelchair. Personally, I was far more shocked by Aretha's morbid obesity than by anything Beyoncé did.

[RBBrittain]

And speaking of Beyoncé: Why is it that the Foo Fighters, Rihanna AND Amy Winehouse all got to sing their ROTY-nominated songs on the Grammycast, but all Beyoncé got was the title and "to the left, to the left" in her intro? (And don't tell me it's because "Irreplaceable" has been around so long; the same goes for "Umbrella" and "Rehab" as well.)

The only ROTY-nominated song with less exposure was Justin Timberlake's; he didn't even show up. And if you discount Beyoncé helping Tina Turner on her own signature song, even Herbie Hancock got more airtime (though not for his AOTY winner). That is a MAJOR diss for someone who put her neck on the line for NARAS by agreeing to perform (in spite of her SAG card) when the WGA was saying they'd strike the Grammys.

The problem with the Tina-Beyoncé segment wasn't Beyoncé's intro; it was that it was ALL we saw of her.

[daniel Flores]

aretha's is 100% correct, Tina Turner can't even hold her towel.

[Usman]

Ms. Franklin needs to take a chill pill. Someone probably goaded her into asking or she came up with it herself which is even more shameful. I do love me my Aretha Ms. Vaughn began her career before the 'Queen'. As far as the thing about calling Tina Turner the queen, lets be fair, everyone is being a called a queen here or there, Madonna etc.,. its not like they called Alicia Keys queen or something.

Point to remember; Aretha doesnt like any tribute which isnt all about her.

[joe]

Patti LaBelle could sing either of these old hags ... and Beyonce... right off the stage. Patti LaBelle is the QUEEN OF ROCK AND SOUL!!!!

[johnny99]

Get over yourself, Aretha. You are the Queen of Soul, Tina is the Queen of Rock. She has proven to be more gracious than you so knock off. By the way, her voice is in much better shape than yours. Drop the stones, your house has more glass than you even know.

[Rob]

The "queen" label did strike me as a bit jarring when I was watching the show, but it's nothing to get worked up about - after all, Turner is a pioneer for women in rock music.

More bizarre were some of the other shout-outs Beyonce gave: Nancy Wilson but no Billie Holiday or Nina Simone? And what was Janet Jackson doing in that company at all?

[valentine]

I agree that Aretha just has to chill, I guess she's just acting like a diva because Tina got special praise from Beyonce and it wasn't her lol..I love aretha too, but Tina's my favorite..damn she look good. Aretha is the Queen of Soul, and Tina is Queen of Rock n Roll, they still have their places.

[dude]

It would be interesting to know whether someone specifically asked Franklin if she felt slighted by Beyonce's Turner intro, or if it was an unprompted statement. But the fact remains, Aretha is "the Queen of Soul," and in that regard it was disrespectful to introduce Tina as "the queen" when there are plenty of other words in the dictionary.

[Maria]

Aretha, get a life because your body shows you don't have one.
Tina Turner The Greatest! And Oh Boy! She looks fabulous at 68!
Long Live to the Queen!
Thanks Beyonce!

[Tony]

Tina Turner reigned once again, even outshining Beyoncé's glow, but you gotta admit Aretha indeed looked like a Queen... transatlantic liner!

[Tony]

Tina Turner reigned once again, even outshining Beyoncé's glow, but you gotta admit Aretha indeed looked like a Queen... transatlantic liner!

[adam]

Aretha, listen dude, Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock n Roll....end of.

The Queen of England doesnt have a hearth attack because there is another Queen in Holland!!!

But Tina, i personally think is much more legendary than Aretha outside of Amercia, and is filled with real soul

[chris]

Aretha does not like trubute to other , she needs eating chicken wings ,,, she looks big

[junior]

People will make anything a controversy nowadays. For the record, Aretha is the Queen of Soul. All Beyonce said was "the Queen." I thought her whole intro was very nice in fact. And as far as I'm concerned Aretha has always been overrated.

[Frankie R.]

Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul and nothing more...I don't recall her being labeled the Queen of Music or Queen of the Record Industry or whatever else. Tina Turner and Ms. Franklin are both very talented individuals with different styles and approaches to music....Aretha is an r&b singer...who has dabbled in Gospel, pop, rock and jazz...and sung a classical aria at the last minute...Tina on the other hand is more of a rock 'n roller. Her repertoire has remain within rock, r&b, and pop. Aretha, dear, lighten up....you're taking this Queen business way too seriously...You don't see Michael Jackson dissing Elvis Presley for being called the King...while Michael is labeled as the King of Pop...As far as I'm concerned, there is only one well known Queen who is truly royalty and that's the Queen of England...and all those queens in West Hollywood....Keep your ego in check please....

[Jessie Ramirez]

Tina Turner Is The QUEEN.

period.

[bella2000]

Beyonce's skit, she named alot of women singers and listed Aretha as well, her skit was attribute to Tina did she need to climax it like that. I agree with Aretha on this one, the writers or Beyonce went too far. Beyonce was shaking it, really, on thin ice, listing living and or deceased legends together then to finally declare who is the Queen?? Whitney made a huge mistake claiming Bobby B. the King R&B?? What? However, no one person, not even Grammy writers or Beyonce should make such lofty claims. It brings, as we see, too much controversy and the feathers are flying every where.

[vera]

its not beyonce fault.the writers are at fault. aretha need to get a grip. the 60s and 70s are over.enjoy your rule as the queen of soul. and yes patti in my mind can sing better than aretha, is that why aretha wont sing with patti?

[cRABBY]

Somewhere Queen Latifah must be seething. Check out http://www.crabbygolightly.com for some thoughts on the catfight between Aretha and Beyonce. CrabbyGolightly.com. Taking a dim view of celebrity, media and power.

[cRABBY]

Somewhere Queen Latifah must be seething. Check out http://www.crabbygolightly.com for some thoughts on the catfight between Aretha and Beyonce. CrabbyGolightly.com. Taking a dim view of celebrity, media and power.

[Pat Geiger]

I was totally shocked at Aretha's "Morbid Obesity". Isn't she concerned about her health? At this rate, she won't be around very long.

[Donald]

Aretha Franklin should NOT "chill" as you people are saying. It's a matter of RESPECT, people. The Queen of Soul was seated in the audience and Beyonce (who doesn't have a title) introduces another diva as "The Queen." Everybody who isn't dead, in every country, knows that Aretha is "The Queen." It was irresponsible for the writers to give that copy to Ms. Knowles, and SHE should have had the sense to question it. Aretha is a legend 100 times over. She doesn't have to take any guff or nonsense like that from anybody.

An apology is due to both legends, Miss Franklin and Miss Tina Turner.

[James]

Just picture it. If Dinah Washington, "The Queen of the Blues," had been sitting in that audience and felt disrespected, not only would Beyonce AND her father gotten cussed out, but probably slapped too! Miss D. didn't play when it came to her title!

[Realitycheck]

Aretha has an ego bigger than she is. Beyonce never said "The Queen of soul, Tina Turner" she said "The Queen, Tina Turner" Tina Turner has the title Queen of Rock and Roll, and Aretha needs to check that. You think Mahalia Jackson (Queen of Gospel) or Loretta Lynn(Queen of Country) would have objected to Aretha Being call the Queen? the answer is no. They are not arrogant and full of themselves like Aretha. Aretha was irked that nobody was kissing her huge fanny this time, and it was a contemporary of hers that was receiving the accolades for once. Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock and Roll and Gutbuckett R&B, and those are titles that she earned. Tina is majestic, and a symbol of stregth and survival, and not only for african americans but women and people in general. Aretha check yourself. Think about what you did, realise that there are singers that have been around along time too, Think of Gladys, Patti, Chaka, and the amazing TIna Turner, they are your contempories and they deseve Respect.TSK, Pull your head out of you butt and get a tent, I mean a dress with sleeves.

[Realitycheck]

Patsy Burton, smell yourself. You can give Beyonce, Tina, and Aretha a run for their money? PFT, give me a break. if you're soo good why are you not on tv, on the radio and all over the net, don't ever compare yourself to any of these great ladies. Etta, I send my love, and you sit comfortabley among all the R&B blues greats. But your voice neither dwarfs or pales in comparison. A writer once said of Aretha's voice (before she was smoking 2 packs of cigs a day, and damaged it beyond repair) That if God was a female soul singer, she would have a voice, phrasing, and emotional delivery not unlike Aretha Franklin. I aggree, I just felt She has gotten too big, both physically, and in her ego.
A writer once said of Tina Turner, she is like a diamond, she has the rawness, the strength, and most of all she shines, her voice is like a perfect instrument...if you ever need the perfect entertainer, look to Tina Turner, she is a star. She is also said to have the most dynamic voice in all of music, and perfect timing. Give it up to Tina Turner.