(AP) – 2 hours ago

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Ailing R&B singer Etta James is gravely ill and her husband of 41 years is seeking a California court order to control more than $1 million of her money.

The 72-year-old singer is best known for the 1961 hit "At Last." Court documents show she lives in the Woodcrest area of Riverside County, has been diagnosed with dementia and is undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Beverly Hills Dr. Elaine James, who isn't related, says in court documents that the singer cannot sign her name and she needs help with feeding, dressing and hygiene.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says a court hearing Friday will consider a bid by husband Artis Mills to control her finances.

She earlier gave power of attorney to sons Donto James and Sametto James, and Donto's wife Christy, in February 2008. Mills is challenging the power of attorney.

Information from: The Press-Enterprise, http://www.pe.com

Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Oh noo.

This is just a mess while Etta is fighting for her life, her sons and her husband are fighting over control of her estate.

Here's more on the matter:

Etta James, ill, family battles over money

08:17 AM PST on Thursday, January 13, 2011

By VANESSA FRANKO
The Press-Enterprise

Singer Etta James, known best for her iconic recording of "At Last," is gravely ill, diagnosed with dementia and undergoing treatment for leukemia, according to court documents.

The 72-year-old Woodcrest resident's illness came to light as part of a civil case in Riverside County Superior Court in which Artis Mills, her husband of 41 years, is seeking control of more than $1 million of James' money.

Her son Donto James wrote in a court declaration that he does not object to money being released for her health care. But he is asking that it be overseen by a third party, "to avoid present and future family conflict and discrepancies."

A hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Neither Mills nor his attorney, Bettye Barnard, returned calls seeking comment. Reached by phone, Donto James declined to comment beyond his statements on the court documents.

The singer gave power of attorney to Donto, her other son Sametto James and Donto's wife, Christy James, in February 2008, according to court documents. Mills has challenged the power of attorney in court documents.

Mills filed for divorce in April 2008, but the petition was dismissed a few months later.

James, who merges blues, rock 'n' roll, gospel and jazz in her music, had an impressive string of hits throughout the 1960s, including the soulful "Tell Mama," "All I Could Do Was Cry," and "I'd Rather Go Blind."

In 1995, James penned an autobiography, "Rage to Survive," which detailed her life, including her drug addiction and rehabilitation.

James continued releasing music and toured the world, playing high-profile events such as the Playboy Jazz Festival.

She also battled obesity and had gastric bypass surgery in 2001.

Beyonce Knowles portrayed James in the film "Cadillac Records" in 2008.

James hasn't been on stage since suffering a urinary tract infection that led to sepsis in early 2010.

Dr. Elaine James, no relation to the singer, declared in the court documents that the singer has multiple medical conditions, including dementia, an organic brain syndrome and a recent diagnosis of leukemia.

The Beverly Hills doctor said she and other medical staff give James continuous medical care and supervision in the singer's home in the Woodcrest area, near Riverside.

Dr. James said the singer isn't able to sign her name and requires assistance with feeding, dressing and hygiene, but does recognize her husband and children. The doctor said James has been admitted to the hospital on occasion but returns home with round-the-clock care.

Mills said in court documents that his wife expressed that "if she ever became disabled, she did not wish to be placed in an institutional nursing facility as long as they had the money to keep her at home."

He is asking to move just over $1 million from three of his wife's accounts to a joint account with him or to him alone with James as a beneficiary of those accounts. He is also seeking the power to close those accounts and transfer the money into his name. In the court documents, he said the money would be used for care, maintenance and support of his wife.

Staff writer Richard K. De Atley contributed to this report.

Reach Vanessa Franko at 951-368-9575 or vfranko@PE.com

i say there must have been a good reason for her giving the power of attorney to her sons. and it appears from her son's statement to the court, he has her best interests at heart.

kibbles said:

i say there must have been a good reason for her giving the power of attorney to her sons. and it appears from her son's statement to the court, he has her best interests at heart.

Yeah I see that too.

Ms. James didn't giver her husband power of attorney, speaks volumes. Unless he can prove his children are misappropriating funds, they'll probably remain powers of attorney. Seldom does the court grant these request unless it can be proven some sort of maleficence has taken place.

TD3 said:

Ms. James didn't giver her husband power of attorney, speaks volumes. Unless he can prove his children are misappropriating funds, they'll probably remain powers of attorney. Seldom does the court grant these request unless it can be proven some sort of maleficence has taken place.

True.

Is she making royalties still, including anything from the movie?

angel345 said:

Is she making royalties still, including anything from the movie?

I don't know... I know she wrote some of her hits like "Roll With Me, Henry", "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and "Tell Mama", so maybe she's still getting royalties from those songs.

Timmy84 said:

angel345 said:

Is she making royalties still, including anything from the movie?

I don't know... I know she wrote some of her hits like "Roll With Me, Henry", "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and "Tell Mama", so maybe she's still getting royalties from those songs.

I see.

This is fairly common in the non-entertainment realm so I don't see why we should we shocked when it happens.

sosgemini said:

This is fairly common in the non-entertainment realm so I don't see why we should we shocked when it happens.

Family drama is prevalent when you're not a celebrity and that's what people fight over.