utopia7 said:

Great isn't it?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

yes !! fabric covering the cable ties


brilliant !

those cables might have helped that dress ... .. .. .

Aretha sounded great on the Grammys, but she should seriously consider checking in somewhere to lose some weight. No one should be this big! She could add years to her life if she'd lose even 50 lbs. Sure, she could stand to lose a lot more, but 50 lbs would be a good start and I'm sure her heart, back and knees would thank her.

she could breast reduction surgery and have a great deal of relief. it make sno sense that she hasn't done so already, she's been this size for at least 10 yrs.

Empress said:

She has already started with a weight loss program




Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul Still RulesThe legendary singer, who’s been named MusiCares Person of the Year, talks about her new album, her weight loss and her new outlook on life.
by Solvej Schou, The Associated Press Posted: Wed., Feb. 6, 2008 , 1:06 pm EST

Topics: entertainment, weight loss, singer, celebrities, grammy More | Sign In or Register to Assign a Topic
Print | Email
Aretha Franklin


Paul Morigi/WireImage

Date of birth: March 25, 1942
Birthplace and hometown: She was born in Memphis, and has been a longtime resident of the Detroit area.
Hit parade: Some of Franklin’s biggest hits include “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like),” “Spanish Harlem,” “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me” (duet with George Michael) and “Freeway of Love.”
Music milestone: In 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Family life: The daughter of a Baptist minister, Franklin has been divorced twice and has four sons.
Franklin’s frank quote: “Don't say Aretha is making a comeback, because I've never been away!”
Aretha Franklin feels lighter than air these days.

The Queen of Soul will be honored February 8 as Person of the Year for MusiCares, a Recording Academy charity supporting music education. She's also up for her 18th Grammy on February 10, nominated for best gospel performance for a duet with Mary J. Blige. And she's, well, actually lighter.

Sitting in the lavish presidential suite of the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on February 5, surrounded by fresh white flowers and a tray of fruits, Franklin looks decidedly slimmer in a lavender sweater and dark pants, her long dark hair hanging in loose waves below her shoulders, her nails painted bright silver.

Franklin's busy schedule of late has motivated her to push for change in her life, including weight loss and the first album to be released on her own label, Aretha's Records.

"I've got a new trainer, and she's giving me a lot of good things, really educating me about nutrition and weight loss and how to do it, and cooking stuff for you," the 65-year-old singer said. "I'm not on a diet. It's a lifestyle change. I'm going to be doing it for the long run. And eventually I'll reach my goal."

Though she didn't say what that goal was, it was clear she was happy to cut out heavier foods, fat content and salt.

"I feel lighter. I'm not as heavy, what you get with the red meat," she told The Associated Press. "You dragging yourself along when you have all that red meat. Much lighter. I feel a lot lighter, and a lot better."

Franklin said she's "a very good cook" but noted she's been mixing up her meals with those from weight-loss program Jenny Craig. Still, Franklin said that for one meal a week, she eats whatever she wants, diverging from low-fat, low-sodium meals of turkey, chicken, fish, lobster and crab.

Before leaving for Los Angeles from her hometown of Detroit, "I had turkey wings and dressing, and that was wonderful. My nutritionist would not like that; my trainer, not at all," Franklin said, grinning.

She usually travels by car, bus or train, and hasn't been on an airplane since a bad flight in 1982.

Franklin said she was truly surprised about the MusiCares honor.

"I was stunned, absolutely stunned, absolutely unbelievable. But hey, woo! I love it," she said.

Franklin said she was thrilled with her Grammy nomination with Blige for the duet "Never Gonna Break My Faith" from the soundtrack of the film "Bobby."

"It's the highest level of achievement that you can achieve in the music industry. And it's always wonderful. You don't always have to win. To be nominated is wonderful," she said.

Franklin's upcoming album, "A Woman Falling Out of Love," will focus on a long-standing theme in her music: relationships.

"We've all been there, women, men. Just a relationship that's boding well to begin with, and hit a bad curve, and just downhill all the way from there," Franklin said, her voice trailing off.

Franklin said she decided to start her own record label after she couldn't "come to a meeting of the minds" with Arista Records' Clive Davis.

"I wanted to stay and he wanted me to stay, but we just didn't meet halfway in the middle there," she said. "So I decided not to re-sign and just go ahead and start my own label and be distributed by some fabulous company."

It's been 40 years since her hit "Respect" snagged the ears of listeners, and a Grammy. Will she ever stop singing?

"Music is my thing, it's who I am. I'm in it for the long run," she said. "I'll be around, singing, `What you want, baby I got it.' Having fun all the way."

banks said:

Excellent news! Good luck to her. I hope she sticks with it and loses some much needed weight.

paintedlady said:

Empress said:

It's uncomfortable seeing her at that weight because there are soooo many health risks a person faces at her current size. Just the heart issues and stroke potential alone make this all really daunting to witness

Great big titties hangin' down like watermelons!

luv4u said:

Aretha is STILL being true to the game. At least her bulldogs are all natural.

I'm more concern about women (READ: Lea Walker) spending too much money getting implants to have bulldogs of their own!

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I don't get the humour there.. is it a racist jibe?

TonyVanDam said:

Norwegian Eurovision entry circa 1986?

TonyVanDam said:

that is the scariest looking bitch i've seen in a long time

I want to know what Re-Re's bra size is. Seriously.

this thread is hilarious! but Retha is just too big!

She said in Jet Magazine that she was trying to lose some weight

Adisa said:

Double J?

TheSkinMechanic said:

No all he's saying that they were in uproar over seeing Janet's breast (which is miniscule compared to Aretha's (just imagine if Aretha's big ole tittie would have been exposed)

Adisa said:

Does she even wear bras?

Timmy84 said:

Whatever would come after Z in the alphabet, it's a double

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Lammastide said:

I saw that too! He said "The bitch doesn't spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T, she spells R-E-C-I-P-E-S"

TonyVanDam said:

I saw her porno tape.....nothing to call home about

TonyVanDam said:

I wouldn't f-ck that creature at gunpoint. Yeesh!!!

Adisa said:

Double-Triple LMNOP

Anxiety said:

luv4u said:

And gastric bypass surgery. On someone so large, any medical procedure is potentially fatal.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Lol, I saw that too, just imagine, they would've had to cut to commercial right in the middle of the half time show. It would have taken Aretha like 5 min to get those things back in the dress.

underthegraffitibridge said:

Gastric bypass would be a GREAT idea for Aretha Her family and friends should recommend it to her.She would lose ALOT of weight in a very short time.Look at Star Jones.She had that operation and she's hella skinny these days!

Magic.