I'm sorry, but some of y'all can take a mention and run with it. I can't imagine what it must be like for people to decide you have something terminal and discuss it as if you are headed to your grave. Can't you put a more positive spin on it instead of what's happening on this thread? Even if she IS that sick, it doesn't help to talk about it on here. Just my take......

^ I understand. I just wish for the sake of her camp that it's nothing too grim. Just come out and say what she has. But I guess it's best not to find out. I hate to think of it so I'll stop entertaining that thought.

Timmy84 said:

Man to hear they're having a PRAYER VIGIL can only mean ONE THING... oh God I hope I don't wake up tomorrow and read the bad news!

All those jokes but I really care for someone like Aretha, her music has meant a lot.

[Edited 12/1/10 20:04pm]

I agree

NewPowerSista said:

I'm sorry, but some of y'all can take a mention and run with it. I can't imagine what it must be like for people to decide you have something terminal and discuss it as if you are headed to your grave. Can't you put a more positive spin on it instead of what's happening on this thread? Even if she IS that sick, it doesn't help to talk about it on here. Just my take......

Newest updates, suggests that her surgery was a success. It states that singer is doing VERY well.

Lets hope so

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

That's exactly what I was reminded of. And thing was James' death was so sudden, it went from "canceling dates due to pneumonia" and then a few seconds later, "James Brown has died".

If I remember correctly, they day before he passed, he was giving out turkeys and toys for some christmas event.

Yes in his hometown of Augusta,GA which is 70 miles west of my hometown. They were showing

him handing out toys to kids on the local news that Friday. I believe it was the following Sunday

christmas morning i got the news he had passed. Nevertheless my prayers goes out to the

Queen of Soul.

NewPowerSista said:

I'm sorry, but some of y'all can take a mention and run with it. I can't imagine what it must be like for people to decide you have something terminal and discuss it as if you are headed to your grave. Can't you put a more positive spin on it instead of what's happening on this thread? Even if she IS that sick, it doesn't help to talk about it on here. Just my take......

Exactly.

NewPowerSista said:

I'm sorry, but some of y'all can take a mention and run with it. I can't imagine what it must be like for people to decide you have something terminal and discuss it as if you are headed to your grave. Can't you put a more positive spin on it instead of what's happening on this thread? Even if she IS that sick, it doesn't help to talk about it on here. Just my take......

The media, and even legit media, that is saying or implying it is something very serious have already been told by insiders (i.e. family memeber or handlers) as to what it is - they are just not specifying yet till Tracey Jordan say Aretha Franklin permits or, the legendary artist does herself.

Facts:

1) The cancellation of six months of apperances of any sort due to doctor's orders is the the first barometer it is serious

2) Aretha Franklin not showing up for her annual Thanksgiving Holiday Gospel Feast and Fest

3) With the kind of ego and attitude that Aretha has, if it were no big deal, she whould have had some camera people at her manse in Bloomfield Hills to show the world - business as usual

4) Her request for special clergymen to phone her and pray with her

5) Prayer vigil...in the Black community, these are not held unless something is dire or grave

6) Surgery and continued hospitalization

a. Surgery when non cosmetic is always serious, and to still be hospitalized - suggests something serious

Note: Did anyone expect gloom and doom statements from her first cousin Brenda; or her publicist Tracey Jordan or Jesse Jackson?

These people have to put a positive spin on it, be it spot on or not.

I do not know personally know what serious ailment that Aretha Franklin has - but trust, Brian Williams and NBC News do not run stories on appendectomy's or lypo suction and call it serious.

In the saying of the old adage - 'there's something not white in this milk'

As her family member told someone - "Pray for her".

I do not get the impression from what I am hearing that Aretha Franklin will ever tell

the general public what her ailment is.

The radio personality Mildred Gaddid in the second clip says it all ="She is going through a severe health challenge, perhaps the greatest of her life."

clip 1 from Fox News in Detroit

http://www.myfoxdetroit.c...01202-wpms

clip 2 from Click on Detroit

http://www.clickondetroit...index.html

[Edited 12/5/10 11:51am]

As of this point I don't expect her to. This is a tough situation. I just hope she REALLY PULLS THROUGH!

This is really bothering me Hasn't Aretha lost some sisters to Cancer? Hope she can weather this storm

nursev said:

This is really bothering me Hasn't Aretha lost some sisters to Cancer? Hope she can weather this storm

Yep.

Eldest sister Erma died of, I believe, lung (or throat) cancer in 2002, Carolyn preceded Erma in 1988 at just 43, she died of breast cancer.

Her brother Cecil died in 1989, I believe from some form of cancer also, I think he was 48 when he died.

Of her family (she was born to C.L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers), she's the only living family member in that family. She has two other siblings from C.L.'s brief liaision with a teenage member of his church and Barbara's eldest son from a previous marriage, Vaughn Franklin. I gotta find what's the name of C.L.'s child but Aretha and 'em never acknowledged her (for obvious reasons I guess).

Timmy84 said:

nursev said:

This is really bothering me Hasn't Aretha lost some sisters to Cancer? Hope she can weather this storm

Yep.

Eldest sister Erma died of, I believe, lung (or throat) cancer in 2002, Carolyn preceded Erma in 1988 at just 43, she died of breast cancer.

Her brother Cecil died in 1989, I believe from some form of cancer also, I think he was 48 when he died.

Of her family (she was born to C.L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers), she's the only living family member in that family. She has two other siblings from C.L.'s brief liaision with a teenage member of his church and Barbara's eldest son from a previous marriage, Vaughn Franklin. I gotta find what's the name of C.L.'s child but Aretha and 'em never acknowledged her (for obvious reasons I guess).

All very sad I can remember as a kid in Detroit hearing about her father's death-really sad too. She has been a very strong lady to live through all this-wishing her the best.

nursev said:

Timmy84 said:

Yep.

Eldest sister Erma died of, I believe, lung (or throat) cancer in 2002, Carolyn preceded Erma in 1988 at just 43, she died of breast cancer.

Her brother Cecil died in 1989, I believe from some form of cancer also, I think he was 48 when he died.

Of her family (she was born to C.L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers), she's the only living family member in that family. She has two other siblings from C.L.'s brief liaision with a teenage member of his church and Barbara's eldest son from a previous marriage, Vaughn Franklin. I gotta find what's the name of C.L.'s child but Aretha and 'em never acknowledged her (for obvious reasons I guess).

All very sad I can remember as a kid in Detroit hearing about her father's death-really sad too. She has been a very strong lady to live through all this-wishing her the best.

She really is. I had to correct myself: Carolyn was 44 when she died.

Aretha has had to deal with a lot of adversity over the years.

I found the name of her other sister, Carl Ellan Jennings Kelly.

Timmy84 said:

I found the name of her other sister, Carl Ellan Jennings Kelly.

Correct. She was the result of an affair with a parishoner named Mildred Jennings,whom was 14 years old when the Reverend Franklin impregnated her.

This was a major source of problems between his church in Memphis and his wife Barbara. Erma and Cecil already were born when Carl Ellen Jennings was born. Mildred was shipped off to New Orleans because of the shame back then of being pregnant at 14 with a child by a married minister.

Miss Jennings would later move to Seattle and presumably marry someone with the last name of Kelly, She has kids and they did attend C.L. Franklin's funeral and have attended some of their famous aunt's concerts and gatherings. One of them is named Timothy.

Always drama in the Franklin household. Shootings, drugs (C.L. was arrested for pot possesion once) and Carolyn Ann was kicked out by C.L. when he found she was a lesbian. Carl Ellen came to meet the family once in Detroit - but she didn't meet Carolyn due to the fact that she had been kicked out.

So Aretha has been through it. Ill-fated liasons with many men, two failed marriages, smoking, drinking, a nervous breakdown, car wreck, slapping a police officer, being arrested in Italy, 2 sons that are mentally ill, lawsuits, the loss of her mom at age 10, an accusation of near rape by some of The Isley brothers in New Jersey, domestic violence , health challenges and the most bombastic of all - the never-going-away story from many insiders that her father C.L. is the seed giver for her eldest son Clarence, whom by the way is named after him - Clarence LaVaughn Franklin.

A net worth of 60 million dollars and a life that has been less than storybook..makes you say poor Aretha. This woman has been through it.

[Edited 12/5/10 17:31pm]

RnBAmbassador said:

Timmy84 said:

I found the name of her other sister, Carl Ellan Jennings Kelly.

Correct. She was the result of an affair with a parishoner named Mildred Jennings,whom was 14 years old when the Reverend Franklin impregnated her.

This was a major source of problems between his church in Memphis and his wife Barbara. Erma and Cecil already were born when Carl Ellen Jennings was born. Mildred was shipped off to New Orleans because of the shame back then of being pregnant at 14 with a child by a married minister.

Miss Jennings would later move to Seattle and presumably marry someone with the last name of Kelly, She has kids and they did attend C.L. Franklin's funeral and have attended some of their famous aunt's concerts and gatherings. One of them is named Timothy.

Always drama in the Franklin household. Shootings, drugs (C.L. was arrested for pot possesion once) and Carolyn Ann was kicked out by C.L. when he found she was a lesbian. Carl Ellen came to meet the family once in Detroit - but she didn't meet Carolyn due to the fact that she had been kicked out.

So Aretha has been through it. Ill-fate liasons with many men, two failed marriages, smoking, drinking, a nervous breakdown, car wreck, slapping a police officer, being arrested in Italy, 2 sons that are mentally ill, lawsuits, the loss of her mom at age 10, an accusation of near rape by some of The Isley brothers in New Jersey, domestic violence , health challenges and the most bombastic of all - the never-going-away strory form many insiders that her father C.L. is the seed giver for her eldest son Clarence, whom by the way is named afetr him - Clarence LaVaughn Franklin.

A net worth of 60 million dollars and a life that has been less than storybook..makes you say poor Aretha. This woman has been through it.

It's enough to make you go insane sometimes. No wonder she has to put up a defense front all the time. I truly feel for her.

Didn't Cecil have a cocaine addiction at one time?

Timmy84 said:

Didn't Cecil have a cocaine addiction at one time?

will only says winks - he actuallly died of heart attack and was being treated for lung cancer...many in Detroit say he accelerated his death with a nosril problem

Erma died of throat cancer and Carolyn of ovarian cancer and Vaughn of lung cancer.

RnBAmbassador said:

Timmy84 said:

Didn't Cecil have a cocaine addiction at one time?

will only says winks - he actuallly died of heart attack and was being treated for lung cancer...many in Detroit say he accelerated his death with a nosril problem

Erma died of throat cancer and Carolyn of ovarian cancer and Vaughn of lung cancer.

Oh I thought Carolyn died of breast cancer. And I forgot Vaughn did pass away recently.

RnBAmbassador said:

Timmy84 said:

I found the name of her other sister, Carl Ellan Jennings Kelly.

Correct. She was the result of an affair with a parishoner named Mildred Jennings,whom was 14 years old when the Reverend Franklin impregnated her.

This was a major source of problems between his church in Memphis and his wife Barbara. Erma and Cecil already were born when Carl Ellen Jennings was born. Mildred was shipped off to New Orleans because of the shame back then of being pregnant at 14 with a child by a married minister.

Miss Jennings would later move to Seattle and presumably marry someone with the last name of Kelly, She has kids and they did attend C.L. Franklin's funeral and have attended some of their famous aunt's concerts and gatherings. One of them is named Timothy.

Always drama in the Franklin household. Shootings, drugs (C.L. was arrested for pot possesion once) and Carolyn Ann was kicked out by C.L. when he found she was a lesbian. Carl Ellen came to meet the family once in Detroit - but she didn't meet Carolyn due to the fact that she had been kicked out.

So Aretha has been through it. Ill-fate liasons with many men, two failed marriages, smoking, drinking, a nervous breakdown, car wreck, slapping a police officer, being arrested in Italy, 2 sons that are mentally ill, lawsuits, the loss of her mom at age 10, an accusation of near rape by some of The Isley brothers in New Jersey, domestic violence , health challenges and the most bombastic of all - the never-going-away strory form many insiders that her father C.L. is the seed giver for her eldest son Clarence, whom by the way is named afetr him - Clarence LaVaughn Franklin.

A net worth of 60 million dollars and a life that has been less than storybook..makes you say poor Aretha. This woman has been through it.

Jesus what a tale her bio film would tell thats if it's ever made and would she agree to all

this info being included in her bio ...... I dont think so Aretha is so secretive

shellyk84 said:

RnBAmbassador said:

Correct. She was the result of an affair with a parishoner named Mildred Jennings,whom was 14 years old when the Reverend Franklin impregnated her.

This was a major source of problems between his church in Memphis and his wife Barbara. Erma and Cecil already were born when Carl Ellen Jennings was born. Mildred was shipped off to New Orleans because of the shame back then of being pregnant at 14 with a child by a married minister.

Miss Jennings would later move to Seattle and presumably marry someone with the last name of Kelly, She has kids and they did attend C.L. Franklin's funeral and have attended some of their famous aunt's concerts and gatherings. One of them is named Timothy.

Always drama in the Franklin household. Shootings, drugs (C.L. was arrested for pot possesion once) and Carolyn Ann was kicked out by C.L. when he found she was a lesbian. Carl Ellen came to meet the family once in Detroit - but she didn't meet Carolyn due to the fact that she had been kicked out.

So Aretha has been through it. Ill-fate liasons with many men, two failed marriages, smoking, drinking, a nervous breakdown, car wreck, slapping a police officer, being arrested in Italy, 2 sons that are mentally ill, lawsuits, the loss of her mom at age 10, an accusation of near rape by some of The Isley brothers in New Jersey, domestic violence , health challenges and the most bombastic of all - the never-going-away strory form many insiders that her father C.L. is the seed giver for her eldest son Clarence, whom by the way is named afetr him - Clarence LaVaughn Franklin.

A net worth of 60 million dollars and a life that has been less than storybook..makes you say poor Aretha. This woman has been through it.

Jesus what a tale her bio film would tell thats if it's ever made and would she agree to all

this info being included in her bio ...... I dont think so Aretha is so secretive

She was trying to get the film together a few months ago before she got ill. She actually wanted Halle Berry of all people to play her.

Timmy84 said:

shellyk84 said:

Jesus what a tale her bio film would tell thats if it's ever made and would she agree to all

this info being included in her bio ...... I dont think so Aretha is so secretive

She was trying to get the film together a few months ago before she got ill. She actually wanted Halle Berry of all people to play her.

If Aretha gets to decide what goes in the film and what doesn't, you'll never get an accurate picture of her life. I was so disappointed in her so-called autobiography. Having read other bios that David Ritz worked on, I expected more, but I could just see Aretha saying, "Oh no, we're not putting THAT in...." So for me, a regular bio reader, it was was not up to par, especially for a David Ritz co-written with Ritz.

NewPowerSista said:

Timmy84 said:

She was trying to get the film together a few months ago before she got ill. She actually wanted Halle Berry of all people to play her.

If Aretha gets to decide what goes in the film and what doesn't, you'll never get an accurate picture of her life. I was so disappointed in her so-called autobiography. Having read other bios that David Ritz worked on, I expected more, but I could just see Aretha saying, "Oh no, we're not putting THAT in...." So for me, a regular bio reader, it was was not up to par, especially for a David Ritz co-written with Ritz.

Aretha's extremely private anyway and the supposed film would be based on her memoirs.

Timmy84 said:

NewPowerSista said:

If Aretha gets to decide what goes in the film and what doesn't, you'll never get an accurate picture of her life. I was so disappointed in her so-called autobiography. Having read other bios that David Ritz worked on, I expected more, but I could just see Aretha saying, "Oh no, we're not putting THAT in...." So for me, a regular bio reader, it was was not up to par, especially for a David Ritz co-written with Ritz.

Aretha's extremely private anyway and the supposed film would be based on her memoirs.

I thought Prince was private. Aretha takes the cake on privacy i c......

NewPowerSista said:

Timmy84 said:

She was trying to get the film together a few months ago before she got ill. She actually wanted Halle Berry of all people to play her.

If Aretha gets to decide what goes in the film and what doesn't, you'll never get an accurate picture of her life. I was so disappointed in her so-called autobiography. Having read other bios that David Ritz worked on, I expected more, but I could just see Aretha saying, "Oh no, we're not putting THAT in...." So for me, a regular bio reader, it was was not up to par, especially for a David Ritz co-written with Ritz.

The draft that Mr. Ritz did was re-writteby Miss Franklin - so teh finished product was not what David Ritz had done. He put too much in, Shge actually fell out with him over the book, as she does with anyone that tell the real deal.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SPA9QOvKDA

in the above clip from Chicago tv station on October 15, 2010...Aretha does not look well..this is just before she went in the church for the service.

Weight loss is very obvious.

RnBAmbassador said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SPA9QOvKDA

in the above clip from Chicago tv station on October 15, 2010...Aretha does not look well..this is just before she went in the church for the service.

Weight loss is very obvious.

YEAH she lost a LOT of weight, it looks like she's losing it rapidly and it's out of her control. I noticed how fatigued she looks in the face too.

Timmy84 said:

RnBAmbassador said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SPA9QOvKDA

in the above clip from Chicago tv station on October 15, 2010...Aretha does not look well..this is just before she went in the church for the service.

Weight loss is very obvious.

YEAH she lost a LOT of weight, it looks like she's losing it rapidly and it's out of her control. I noticed how fatigued she looks in the face too.

She seemed a little weak in that clip. But other than that she looked ok to me...

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Timmy84 said:

YEAH she lost a LOT of weight, it looks like she's losing it rapidly and it's out of her control. I noticed how fatigued she looks in the face too.

She seemed a little weak in that clip. But other than that she looked ok to me...

Well she still had her wits about her so that's encouraging.

Timmy84 said:

RnBAmbassador said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SPA9QOvKDA

in the above clip from Chicago tv station on October 15, 2010...Aretha does not look well..this is just before she went in the church for the service.

Weight loss is very obvious.

YEAH she lost a LOT of weight, it looks like she's losing it rapidly and it's out of her control. I noticed how fatigued she looks in the face too.

I just don't agree that she looks ill. I can tell that she has lost some weight, but I certainly wouldn't PRESUME that it's out of her control! And her face looked just as it should to me. There are times when women of a certain age don't look as good as they do at other times. I still think you folks are reading something into this that just may not be there. Stop trying to bury Aretha!!