Aretha May Lose Her Detroit Mansion
DETROIT — Aretha Franklin could lose her home to tax collectors. The singer says an attorney's mistake caused her $700,000 mansion in Detroit to slip into foreclosure over $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees.

The Detroit Free Press reports Thursday the Queen of Soul owes a total of $19,192 in back taxes on the property through 2007. She says she plans to pay up and reclaim it by a March 31 deadline.

A spokesman for the Wayne County treasurer's office says the foreclosure judgment for $445 was entered earlier this month.

Records show Franklin owes $18,746 in back taxes and fees for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, but foreclosure proceedings on those debts wouldn't begin until next year.

Franklin's slate-roofed brick mansion was built in 1927.

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This is a shame. Yet another celebrity that is not on top of their business affairs.

I guess this is why her concert tickets are so expensive. Who does she think can afford to see her at those prices. Only business men, politicians and hookers!

Empress said:

I know. She wants more than Prince in most cities. Lucky for me, her tickets range from 45 to 80 for the show in Dallas.

daPrettyman said:

No celebrity controls their own business affairs

2blax2proud said:

Control and being on TOP of are 2 different things.

Graycap23 said:

As much as I hate to admit it, Oprah is right about one thing. You should always sign your own checks. That way, you know what's going on.

Graycap23 said:

If you can't read or understand a contract, you neither in control or on top, you're ass out

Detroit is a dump anyhow.

2blax2proud said:

No doubt.

This sucks. It's what happen to Ron Isley. One of his people suggested an idea that screwed him up too. This man has been sick with diabetes and shouldn't have to deal with this crap. Steve Harvey was trying to do something on his show to help him. That was nice.

mayebelle81 said:

Speaking of Ron, they're saying his projected release date is April 2010. I hope he stays alive during all of this.

But she's working still, no? Otherwise her son works pretty steadily (though very quietly) in the music business, so if there would be a foreclosure on such a small payment as that I trust that she will be alright.

Ottensen said:

True.

2blax2proud said:

WORD.

Graycap23 said:

This is one of those news stories that is really misleading. Aretha doesn't live in that 'mansion' in Detroit. She owns several multi-million dollar mansions in Bloomfield, a Detroit suburb. She lives in one and uses some for storage! Back to Detroit though, there are 'mansions' for sale just like the one in the article for less than $200,000. That used to be an exclusive area, but like most neighborhoods in Detroit, has gone to hell in the last 25-30 years. I

There's no excuse for that shit.

funksterr said:

Oh for real? Then Aretha ain't sweating bullets on it then.

MsLegs said:

Aretha's gonna eat somebody up when this shit is done

bboy87 said:

That's her problem right there. Instead of making sure her property taxes were paid so she didn't end up a E! THS, she was buying 9753759345737857839475357387587348957 piece dinners with extra biscuits, gravy, bacon fat, and mac n cheese.

Timmy84 said:

Detroit media is always on the hunt for some kind of dirt on local musicians with a big name nationally. White Stripes, Eminem, Kid Rock are always in the news.

funksterr said:

Yeah I noticed.

daPrettyman said:

Yeah,it's sad isn't it? I'm sick of hearing stories like this....legendary artists who don't pay their bills,evade the IRS,etc.

Empress said:

I dont get all this, she owes $18 thousand, she would make that amount 10x for one show? why is it so hard for Aretha to get 18 grand?

Oh no!

If she loses it,
what will happen to the llamas?

TheMightyCelestial said:

She already ate the llamas!

If anybody believe that Aretha is going to lose her home for 19k, you gotta be out of your mind.... 19 mill maybe but not 19k

Dance said:

aaaaahhhhh!!!!!