Franklin slams Beyonce Grammy intro

When Aretha Franklin is unhappy, she does not mince words. On Tuesday, the longtime Queen of Soul slammed Beyonce Knowles' intro to Tina Turner at Sunday's Grammy Awards, in which Knowles called Turner, not Franklin, "the queen."

"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 said in a statement issued by her publicist. "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."

E-mails to Knowles' publicist Yvette Noel-Schure and calls and e-mails to Recording Academy spokeswomen Jaime Sarachit and Barb Deghan were not immediately returned.

In the first few seconds of Knowles' intro to Turner's performance, she name-dropped Franklin and a long list of famed female singers. Then the "Crazy in Love" chanteuse focused on Turner.

"There is one legend who has the essence of all of those things: the glamour, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent," said Knowles, strutting in hot pants. "Ladies and gentlemen. Stand on your feet and give it up for the queen."

At a party later that night, Knowles called Turner her "ultimate icon."

Still, Franklin ended her brief criticism on a gracious note, thanking the Grammys and the voting academy and saying, "love to Beyonce anyway."

Known for such hits as "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," Franklin tied with the Clark Sisters for best gospel performance trophy for her duet "Never Gonna Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige.

"love to Beyonce anyway"

Queen, please.

"There is one legend who has the essence of all of those things: the glamour, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent," said Knowles, strutting in hot pants.

Like they call Aretha "the Queen of Soul", Tina has always been called the "Queen of Rock & Roll". So what is her beef? I hope she don't think she is the Queen of Music. Fat ass Reefa need to find out how Tina stay looking so good at 67 and lose some weight.

Scorpion said:

I agree. I don't understand what the fuss is.

Aretha is known as the Queen of Soul. Tina as the Queen of Rock & Roll. Madonna as the Queen of Pop. There can be more than one queen in modern popular music.
[Edited 2/12/08 19:17pm]

Rodya24 said:

Well that montage didn't include pop or rock. It was ALL SOUL

Rodya24 said:

Well that montage didn't include pop or rock. It was ALL SOUL

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It mentioned Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston as well. Are these artists soul or pop?

Rodya24 said:

(Depending on how you define them,) Both.
[Edited 2/12/08 19:21pm]

Rodya24 said:

(Depending on how you define them,) Both.
[Edited 2/12/08 19:21pm]

This is why I hate Urethra- she's so far up her own butt that she can't smell her own crap anymore.

Moonbeam said:

i think she has a team of crap stylists so she doesn't have to be reminded of such unpleasantness.

This is why I hate Urethra- she's so far up her own butt that she can't smell her own crap anymore.

Moonbeam said:

Do you hate her more than PenisTON?

AlexdeParis said:

OK. First time I have heard someone describe Houston as soul.

But I still do not understand what the fuss is. I see Tina as much of a legend and deserving of the title "Queen" as Aretha. Moreover, it was Beyonce who was speaking. And I am sure she looks up to Tina more than Aretha.

Anxiety said:

I suppose, if Mrs. Potato Head is "stylish".

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yes!

Moonbeam said:

she's got a flavor.

Moonbeam said:

Are you serious?! WoW! Do you hate her voice to or just these antics? You can't seriously hate her singing can you? I mean those old school jams were just KILLER

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I don't like her music, either!

did the queen of england throw a fit when queen latifah got popular?

did the queen of england throw a fit when queen latifah got popular?