Aretha Franklin: Enough talk on why she missed Whitney's funeral!

Aretha Franklin missed Whitney Houston's funeral Saturday, but there's simply no drama behind it all, the Queen of Soul insisted Wednesday, suggesting various media outlets should "stop the BS."

Franklin, who was invited to the funeral and reportedly on tap to sing "The Greatest Love of All," bowed out at the last minute for health reasons, leaving Dionne Warwick a bit surprised to learn that "Re" wasn't on hand when she was to step up to the front of the church.

Franklin explained in a statement Saturday obtained by "Extra" that she'd had every intention of attending, but "unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4:00 a.m. this morning following my concert last night, which I've been having for the last few days. I feel it necessary and very important to stay off my leg today as much as possible until concert time this evening.

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's funeral

"My heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy [Houston], Dionne, Bobbi Kristina [Brown] and the rest of the family. May God keep them all."

But Wednesday's statement was another thing entirely.

"People are getting their information from the wrong source," Franklin said, according to the Detroit News. "The intelligent and the thoughtful thing to do would be to respect and have some sensitivity to the moment. If you don't know how, at least try. Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I — particularly at this time."

The "ridiculous speculation" referred to talk of a rift between Cissy and Aretha, complete with an un-invitation, over comments the latter made in a "Today" interview that aired Friday.

Whitney Houston: Family members attend private viewing service

Whitney Houston's family gathered Friday evening in Newark, N.J., for a private viewing of the body of the singer, who died Saturday at the Beverly Hilton.

Mother Cissy Houston, daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown and Dionne Warwick were among those spotted arriving at the Whigham Funeral Home, according to TMZ, which also reported music mentor Clive Davis stopping by briefly and then leaving before the 5 p.m. EST viewing service was to begin. The service reportedly ran about two hours.

Back at Los Angeles International Airport earlier in the day, the likes of Kevin Costner, Ray J and Brandy were photographed on their way to flights headed back East. Costner, Houston's costar in "The Bodyguard," is expected to speak at the funeral, which starts at noon EDT Saturday at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church.

FULL COVERAGE: Whitney Houston, 1963-2012

Bobby Brown, Houston's ex-husband and Bobbi Kristina's father, was officially invited to attend, Houston's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press, despite earlier rumors that he was being shunned by the family. Brown has a concert with New Edition scheduled for Saturday night in Connecticut.

Also on tap for the funeral are musical performances from Houston's godmother Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported. Additional invited guests whosed names are popping up in assorted media reports include Elton John, Bill Cosby, David Bowie, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Diddy, Berry Gordy, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington.

Flags on state government buildings in New Jersey will fly at half-staff Saturday in honor of the singer, who was born in Newark and grew up in nearby East Orange.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville
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Photo: Whitney Houston's family members are helped as they arrive at Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, N.J., on Friday for a private viewing service. Credit: Mel Evans / Associated Press.

 

 

 

 

Aretha Franklin calls off wedding to Willie Wilkerson

Aretha Franklin's longtime fans were taken aback when the soul singer announced just after New Year's that over the holidays she'd gotten engaged to be married to longtime companion William "Willie" Wilkerson. Well, those with concerns need not worry about buying wedding gifts just yet — the 69-year-old "Respect" singer has put the brakes on her wedding, which was to have taken place sometime in the summer.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Franklin explained the situation like this: "Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time. We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it. We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends."

Just a few weeks ago, Franklin, who suffered serious (but unrevealed) health problems in 2010, was giddily discussing her recent weight loss of 85 pounds and her plans to be fitted for a wedding dress by Vera Wang, Valentino or Donna Karan.

It's unclear if longtime friends Franklin and Wilkerson have called off only the wedding or their entire significant-other relationship, but something tells us that after today's announcement, Wang, Valentino and Karan shouldn't waste a lot of time waiting by the phone.

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Photo: Aretha Franklin with William Wilkerson at the after-party for the BET Honors 2012 on Jan. 13. Photo credit: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images.

Aretha Franklin is engaged to Willie Wilkerson

Aretha Franklin is engaged to marry longtime friend and confidant William "Willie" Wilkerson, with a Miami Beach wedding likely in the summer.

"No, I'm not pregnant," the 69-year-old "Respect" singer joked Monday in a statement announcing the engagement, which happened over the holidays.

The Queen of Soul has bounced back nicely after a health scare (she had extreme pain in her side) that included surgery in December 2010 and a number of canceled shows. "I had superb doctors and nurses who were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country," she said at the time.

At one point erroneous reports of pancreatic cancer circulated, but Franklin set the record straight last January: No cancer, no she's not telling exactly what happened, but yes, the surgery added 15 to 20 years to her life.

Now that she's lost 85 pounds and feels "fabulous," according to People, it's time to bring on the wedding gown.  She said she's considering Vera Wang, Valentino and Donna Karan to design the dress.

It will be Franklin's third marriage.

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— Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Aretha Franklin in May. Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Grammy Awards: Aretha Franklin promises to be at next year's Grammys

Aretha Franklin made a surprise, taped appearance Sunday at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, popping on screen after Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride and more kicked off with a tribute to the Queen of Soul.

In her message, Franklin promised to be at the Grammys in 2012. She'd made her first public appearance in months on Friday, heading out to see a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game with Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The diva in January debunked some rumors about her recent illness, which forced her to cancel six months' worth of performances. Franklin underwent surgery in December.

Without giving specifics about what had ailed her, Franklin told "Access Hollywood," "I don't know where 'pancreatic cancer' came from. I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that. No one in my family ever said that to anybody."

"If you're a fan of Aguilera's hollering, this was golden," Todd Martens said of the tribute in his Pop & Hiss  mini-review, noting that the blond singer -- possibly seeking a shot at redemption after her Super Bowl fumble -- in one instance stretched the word "I" into nearly four syllables.

Florence Welch and Yolanda Adams rounded out the medley of Franklin tunes, which featured Hudson rocking a little "Respect."

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Reuters contributed to this report.

Top photo: Aretha Franklin walks on the court with Jesse Jackson after the Detroit Pistons-Miami Heat basketball game in Michigan on Feb. 11, 2011. Credit: Paul Sancya / Associated Press

Right photo: Kelly Osbourne arrives at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 13, 2011. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Aretha Franklin home from hospital, feeling 'great'

Aretha Franklin is home from the hospital, recuperating and feeling "great" in Detroit after surgery a little more than a week ago for an unspecified condition.

"The doctors say I can do whatever I feel like I am up to do," she told Jet on Wednesday. Not concerts, however -- the soul diva recently canceled six months of shows. "But I can do things around the house, and today I am just piddling around the house."

Though Franklin has not gone on the record about her illness, sources close to the family have said she's suffering from pancreatic cancer, which took the lives of Patrick Swayze and Michael Landon. High-profile survivors include Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs. Franklin told the mag she'd soon give more information on her condition. 

Franklin told Jet she appreciates the support she's experienced, particularly that from gospel performers who understand she's more than a woman who sings pop hits.

"They know I am a praying woman. They pray without ceasing for me," she said.

Franklin also invoked her higher power after the surgery, saying in a statement, "God is still in control."

"I had superb doctors and nurses who were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country."

She expects to recuperate for about eight weeks, she told Jet.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Aretha Franklin at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 2009. Credit: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

 

 

Reports: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has cancer

Soul singer Aretha Franklin, who underwent surgery for an unspecified illness Thursday after canceling concert dates through May, has cancer, a Detroit TV station reports.

WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit cites a family member in confirming a National Enquirer print-edition report Wednesday that specifically mentioned pancreatic cancer, the disease that claimed Patrick Swayze and Michael Landon. Franklin's rep had no comment for the Detroit News, which cited a source "familiar with the situation" in its cancer report.

"God is still in control," Franklin said in a statement after her surgery, which was deemed "highly successful."

"I had superb doctors and nurses who were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country."

Franklin has been visited several times by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who on Wednesday said she was "recovering very well" from surgery.

Famous survivors of pancreatic tumors include Apple exec Steven Jobs and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Aretha Franklin performs at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26, 2009. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Aretha Franklin surgery declared 'highly successful'

We don't exactly know why Aretha Franklin had surgery Thursday, but we do know that it was "highly successful."

This according to a statement in which reps for the Queen of Soul did not go into detail about Franklin's condition.

"God is still in control," the singer said. "I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country."

A Detroit city councilwoman who organized a prayer vigil Wednesday said participants were not digging into the details of the surgery, just expressing support, and reps declined further comment.

On doctors' orders in early November, the 68-year-old Franklin canceled six months' worth of tour dates after a brief stay in a Detroit hospital in October.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Photo: Aretha Franklin performs at the Hollywood Bowl in June 2009. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

 

 

Condoleezza Rice backs Aretha Franklin on piano in Philly

Aretha Franklin and Condoleezza Rice made a little bit of music together Tuesday night in Philadelphia in a pairing the Washington Post said had "a kind of goofy brilliance" -- brilliant enough to raise $582,000 for arts education and the Mann Center, the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The former secretary of State, a classically trained pianist, hit the keys with the orchestra for the first part of the night, then partnered with the music legend for "Say a Little Prayer." Franklin brought Rice back out for "My Country 'Tis of Thee" -- a tune the belter also performed the day President Barack Obama was inaugurated.

Watch clips from the performance in an ITN News video after the break.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin at a fundraiser in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Credit: Jeff Fusco / Getty Images