Aretha Franklin is very much alive and well. The woman known worldwide as 'The Queen of Soul' will re-establish her royal reign with a new 125lb weight loss body, a new album under the umbrella of Clive Davis, a tour hitting NY, Detroit and other cities she cancelled due to her medical procedure and a celebration of 50 years in the business with a complete Columbia album box set release.

There was never any pancreatic cancer, and she was never in a termical state as was stated bt rag magazines like The Star.

Miss Franklin will be seen publically for the first time this Sunday on the Grammys on CBS TV at 8PM EST. The show will kick-off with a major

Valentine's Get Well Tribute to her by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride and Florence Welch.

They will do solo numbers and various combinations and a rousing "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves". Franklin will appear video that was filmed in the suburbs of Detroit on Saturday, February 5th. Her weight loss will be quite obvious.

She is also gonna be in a photo spread and article in the forthcoming JET Magazine.

In May she will head to NYC and do business with Clive Davis and do Radio City Music Hall. The Fox Theatre will have he in concert June 3rd, 4th and 5th in Detroit.

It is speculated that with Fantasia Barrino getting the role of Mahalia Jackson in the Mahalia Jackson story, the path is all but paved for Jennifer Hudson to nab the role of Aretha Franklin in movie about Aretha Franklin.

So glad Aretha is back and doing great!

[Edited 2/11/11 0:05am]

[Edited 2/11/11 5:35am]

[Edited 2/11/11 8:32am]

Feb. 13 can't come soon enough now!

Timmy84 said:

Feb. 13 can't come soon enough now!

sarcasm, i assume...

125lb weight loss? That seems like a lot.

MJJstudent said:

Timmy84 said:

Feb. 13 can't come soon enough now!

sarcasm, i assume...

Not when it comes to Ree. After that, yeah lol

musicjunky318 said:

125lb weight loss? That seems like a lot.

Aretha said in an earlier interview last month that she was down to a size 16-18 so she may be down to 200 lbs. I think she's 5'5 too so I don't think it's too much weight loss. It's kinda reminding me of when Etta James lost weight.

Timmy84 said:

musicjunky318 said:

125lb weight loss? That seems like a lot.

Aretha said in an earlier interview last month that she was down to a size 16-18 so she may be down to 200 lbs. I think she's 5'5 too so I don't think it's too much weight loss. It's kinda reminding me of when Etta James lost weight.

I guess that's alright then. Sunday can't come soon enough.

Hmmm... I hope it is true for her sake but from my experience when people lose that much weight so fast it is due to a catastrophic illness or medications which contribute to weight loss like diabetes but it isn't due to healthy lifestyle changes. I really hope she is doing well and can come back and sing for us some more. Cheers to Aretha--whatever you say about her, she's a real trooper.

purplethunder3121 said:

Hmmm... I hope it is true for her sake but from my experience when people lose that much weight so fast it is due to a catastrophic illness or medications which contribute to weight loss like diabetes but it isn't due to healthy lifestyle changes. I really hope she is doing well and can come back and sing for us some more. Cheers to Aretha--whatever you say about her, she's a real trooper.

Well she has a video message at this year's Grammys so everyone will probably get a good look at her and make up their own minds if she's healthy or sick but my thoughts are leading on her being healthy.

Timmy84 said:

musicjunky318 said:

125lb weight loss? That seems like a lot.

Aretha said in an earlier interview last month that she was down to a size 16-18 so she may be down to 200 lbs. I think she's 5'5 too so I don't think it's too much weight loss. It's kinda reminding me of when Etta James lost weight.

hint hint huh, LOL...to loose a massive amount of weight rapidly means...

I offer that the Grammys will provide the shock moment of the last 3 months.

Yay! I'm just glad to hear that she's doing great. And thank God she's lost some weight, whether on purpose or not. That shit had to go. That alone can take years off your life.

so basically,she never had pancreatic cancer....she just had gastric bypass operation,to help her lose weight? Is that the real story? In any case,I think it's great and I'm glad that she's doing well.

SoulAlive said:

so basically,she never had pancreatic cancer....she just had gastric bypass operation,to help her lose weight? Is that the real story? In any case,I think it's great and I'm glad that she's doing well.

Actually, cancer can make you lose weight very fast. Also, so can a diabetic medication which has a "good" side effect of making you lose weight very quickly--if you do the healthy things you are supposed to do! I know about this because my best friend just avoided a diabetic coma and got on this medication and lost 50 pounds in two months! But, in saying this, I certainly hope that Aretha is as healthy as she says she is--and that she will come back to us all with more music! She is a real survivor and a trooper! Whatever else people may have to say about her! I R-E-S-P-E-C-T her all the way and love her music. Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

Jennifer Hudson Talks Grammy Aretha Franklin Tribute

'I'm like on cloud nine,' Hudson says of rehearsing for the Franklin medley with Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride and other stars.

By Matt Elias

Thursday night in Los Angeles saw the convergence of some of the biggest voices in music at the Staples Center, as Grammy rehearsals kicked off for the Aretha Franklin tribute. The genre-spanning group included Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, country star Martina McBride and gospel great Yolanda Adams.

The fivesome powered through a medley of Franklin's hits that will open the 53rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

The Staples Center rafters rattled as the group belted out "Natural Woman," before each diva took on their own Franklin tune. Aguilera went first with "Ain't No Way," McBride was up next with "Until You Come Back to Me," Welch followed with "Think," Jennifer Hudson tackled the iconic "Respect" and Adams rounded things out with "Spirit in the Dark." The ladies all closed with the empowering "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves."

"Dreamgirl" Hudson and Brit songstress Welch were clearly having a good time onstage, bumping hips and improvising their own two-steps.

Minutes after the rehearsal, Hudson spoke to MTV News about the tribute.

"Rehearsals are going, and went, very well," Hudson said. "It's a lot of fun, and just being amongst the other ladies and being around some of my favorite artists, and then tributing Aretha Franklin, it's just like surreal. And it's a moment you just have to take in and enjoy it, and I'm like on cloud nine just in that moment."

As far as the monumental task of deciding which song to select from the Queen of Soul, the decision, it turns out, wasn't Hudson's problem.

"They were chosen for us," she admitted. "I know that had to be the hardest job because Aretha has like catalogues of music. And I remember when they asked me to submit a list and I'm like, 'Oh my God! Where do I start?' "

You'll have to tune in Sunday night to see how the divas pull it off. And don't forget to catch our special Grammy correspondent Snooki, who will join Sway on the red carpet for our two-hour live stream on MTV.com, starting at 6 p.m. ET.

http://www.mtv.com/news/a...bute.jhtml

Thanks for posting. I still hope she gets Jennifer Hudson to play her in a movie. Maybe after she sees Jennifer sing on Sunday at the Grammys, she'll consider. Also, I can't wait to see how she looks with the weight loss. All hail the Queen of Soul, Miss Aretha!

2elijah said:

Thanks for posting. I still hope she gets Jennifer Hudson to play her in a movie. Maybe after she sees Jennifer sing on Sunday at the Grammys, she'll consider. Also, I can't wait to see how she looks with the weight loss. All hail the Queen of Soul, Miss Aretha!

I think Jennifer wouldn't be a bad choice at all. Certainly much better than Halle Berry lipsyching! Jennifer and Eddie Murphy were the only two people that made Dream Girls bearable to me...

by James Gilbert

(CBS) -- The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air Sunday night on CBS and perhaps nobody is more excited than the nominated artists. CBS caught up with some of the stars at Los Angeles' Staples Center to ask them all about the big show - what they plan on performing, and what it means to them to be part of the few, the proud - the Grammy nominees. Also warming up - a newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson, who will be participating in a very special tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin. The 68-year-old Franklin announced late last year that she's suffering from pancreatic cancer. She's also a nominee this year, along with Ronald Isley, for their rendition of "You've Got a Friend." Hudson was clearly moved when talking about what Franklin has meant to her, and her family. She'll be one of four female singers paying tribute - along with Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

http://www.wltx.com/news/...in-Tribute

***********************

This news story is troublesome. Miss Franklin has never stated that she has pancreatic cancer.

RnBAmbassador said:

by James Gilbert

(CBS) -- The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air Sunday night on CBS and perhaps nobody is more excited than the nominated artists. CBS caught up with some of the stars at Los Angeles' Staples Center to ask them all about the big show - what they plan on performing, and what it means to them to be part of the few, the proud - the Grammy nominees. Also warming up - a newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson, who will be participating in a very special tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin. The 68-year-old Franklin announced late last year that she's suffering from pancreatic cancer. She's also a nominee this year, along with Ronald Isley, for their rendition of "You've Got a Friend." Hudson was clearly moved when talking about what Franklin has meant to her, and her family. She'll be one of four female singers paying tribute - along with Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

http://www.wltx.com/news/...in-Tribute

***********************

This news story is troublesome. Miss Franklin has never stated that she has pancreatic cancer.

RnBAmbassador said:

RnBAmbassador said:

by James Gilbert

(CBS) -- The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air Sunday night on CBS and perhaps nobody is more excited than the nominated artists. CBS caught up with some of the stars at Los Angeles' Staples Center to ask them all about the big show - what they plan on performing, and what it means to them to be part of the few, the proud - the Grammy nominees. Also warming up - a newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson, who will be participating in a very special tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin. The 68-year-old Franklin announced late last year that she's suffering from pancreatic cancer. She's also a nominee this year, along with Ronald Isley, for their rendition of "You've Got a Friend." Hudson was clearly moved when talking about what Franklin has meant to her, and her family. She'll be one of four female singers paying tribute - along with Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

http://www.wltx.com/news/...in-Tribute

***********************

This news story is troublesome. Miss Franklin has never stated that she has pancreatic cancer.

James Gilbert wisely changed the story

CBS) -- The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air Sunday night on CBS and perhaps nobody is more excited than the nominated artists.

CBS caught up with some of the stars at Los Angeles' Staples Center to ask them all about the big show - what they plan on performing, and what it means to them to be part of the few, the proud - the Grammy nominees.

Also warming up - a newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson, who will be participating in a very special tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin. It was reported that the 68-year-old Franklin late last year was suffering from pancreatic cancer, according to CBS News. They report that Franklin underwent surgery in Detroit, and she told CBS that she said her ailment has been resolved.

Franklin is also a nominee this year, along with Ronald Isley, for their rendition of "You've Got a Friend."

Hudson was clearly moved when talking about what Franklin has meant to her, and her family. She'll be one of four female singers paying tribute - along with Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

purplethunder3121 said:

2elijah said:

Thanks for posting. I still hope she gets Jennifer Hudson to play her in a movie. Maybe after she sees Jennifer sing on Sunday at the Grammys, she'll consider. Also, I can't wait to see how she looks with the weight loss. All hail the Queen of Soul, Miss Aretha!

I think Jennifer wouldn't be a bad choice at all. Certainly much better than Halle Berry lipsyching! Jennifer and Eddie Murphy were the only two people that made Dream Girls bearable to me...

I agree,Jennifer Hudson is an excellent choice to play Aretha.

RnBAmbassador said:

Aretha Franklin is very much alive and well. The woman known worldwide as 'The Queen of Soul' will re-establish her royal reign with a new 125lb weight loss body, a new album under the umbrella of Clive Davis, a tour hitting NY, Detroit and other cities she cancelled due to her medical procedure and a celebration of 50 years in the business with a complete Columbia album box set release.

There was never any pancreatic cancer, and she was never in a termical state as was stated bt rag magazines like The Star.

Miss Franklin will be seen publically for the first time this Sunday on the Grammys on CBS TV at 8PM EST. The show will kick-off with a major

Valentine's Get Well Tribute to her by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride and Florence Welch.

They will do solo numbers and various combinations and a rousing "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves". Franklin will appear video that was filmed in the suburbs of Detroit on Saturday, February 5th. Her weight loss will be quite obvious.

She is also gonna be in a photo spread and article in the forthcoming JET Magazine.

In May she will head to NYC and do business with Clive Davis and do Radio City Music Hall. The Fox Theatre will have he in concert June 3rd, 4th and 5th in Detroit.

It is speculated that with Fantasia Barrino getting the role of Mahalia Jackson in the Mahalia Jackson story, the path is all but paved for Jennifer Hudson to nab the role of Aretha Franklin in movie about Aretha Franklin.

So glad Aretha is back and doing great!

[Edited 2/11/11 0:05am]

[Edited 2/11/11 5:35am]

[Edited 2/11/11 8:32am]

Can you provide a link to where this story came from?

kitbradley said:

RnBAmbassador said:

Aretha Franklin is very much alive and well. The woman known worldwide as 'The Queen of Soul' will re-establish her royal reign with a new 125lb weight loss body, a new album under the umbrella of Clive Davis, a tour hitting NY, Detroit and other cities she cancelled due to her medical procedure and a celebration of 50 years in the business with a complete Columbia album box set release.

There was never any pancreatic cancer, and she was never in a termical state as was stated bt rag magazines like The Star.

Miss Franklin will be seen publically for the first time this Sunday on the Grammys on CBS TV at 8PM EST. The show will kick-off with a major

Valentine's Get Well Tribute to her by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride and Florence Welch.

They will do solo numbers and various combinations and a rousing "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves". Franklin will appear video that was filmed in the suburbs of Detroit on Saturday, February 5th. Her weight loss will be quite obvious.

She is also gonna be in a photo spread and article in the forthcoming JET Magazine.

In May she will head to NYC and do business with Clive Davis and do Radio City Music Hall. The Fox Theatre will have he in concert June 3rd, 4th and 5th in Detroit.

It is speculated that with Fantasia Barrino getting the role of Mahalia Jackson in the Mahalia Jackson story, the path is all but paved for Jennifer Hudson to nab the role of Aretha Franklin in movie about Aretha Franklin.

So glad Aretha is back and doing great!

[Edited 2/11/11 0:05am]

[Edited 2/11/11 5:35am]

[Edited 2/11/11 8:32am]

Can you provide a link to where this story came from?

I hope Auntie Ree is fit and healthy soon! I'm keeping her in my prayers. Get well soon Lady Soul!

http://www.accesshollywoo...icle_43687

Jennifer Hudson Enthusiastic About Aretha Franklin Film Role

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Halle Berry may have taken herself out of the running to play Aretha Franklin in a film about the Queen of Soul’s life (according to Halle herself, it’s because she can’t sing), but there’s another Oscar winner who still has her eye on the role. Newly svelte Jennifer Hudson, a Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner for 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” admitted to Access Hollywood on Thursday that she wouldn’t say no to the part. “I’ve been hearing a lot [of talk] about this lately,” Jennifer told Access as she rehearsed for Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party honoring David Geffen in Los Angeles. “We met a couple of years ago actually, about I don’t know what, but if I get that opportunity I would love to do it.” Jennifer, who will perform an Aretha song – “Natural Woman”– at Clive’s annual bash before music’s biggest night, said she would consider the opportunity to play the Detroit diva a delight. “I would be honored. That would be amazing to be a part of that,” Jennifer said. Aretha is well aware that Jennifer will perform one of her classics at Clive’s big event, and Jennifer revealed to Access that the legend recently contacted her about the cover. “Aretha called me out of the blue last Friday and we were chatting on the phone and I told her,” Jennifer explained. “She was trying to get an idea of what was going on; she knows what’s going on at the Grammys.” As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Jennifer, alongside Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Florence Welch of Florence and The Machine and Yolanda Adams will take part in a tribute to Aretha at the start of the Grammys, but any further details about the performance is being kept under wraps. At Clive’s party, Jennifer will also perform “Where You At?” the first single off her sophomore album “I Remember Me” (due for release on April 25), but she knows it’s special to sing one of Aretha’s songs because of the First Lady of Soul’s impact. ”[She] has had such an influence on the music industry and me personally and everybody… and so we’re just celebrating that… and I’m just honored to be able to sing one of her songs,” Jennifer said. Chicago-bred Jennifer said Aretha, whose health has made headlines of late, is doing well. “First thing, let me say… she was vital and we had fun and we’re planning [on] her coming to New York in the spring and [we’ll have] a special dinner,” Jennifer recounted of her conversation with Aretha. “Aretha’s great and she’s looking forward to hearing from me, you know, the special night, Saturday night… as well as the Grammys.”

RnBAmbassador said:

RnBAmbassador said:

James Gilbert wisely changed the story

CBS) -- The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air Sunday night on CBS and perhaps nobody is more excited than the nominated artists.

CBS caught up with some of the stars at Los Angeles' Staples Center to ask them all about the big show - what they plan on performing, and what it means to them to be part of the few, the proud - the Grammy nominees.

Also warming up - a newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson, who will be participating in a very special tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin. It was reported that the 68-year-old Franklin late last year was suffering from pancreatic cancer, according to CBS News. They report that Franklin underwent surgery in Detroit, and she told CBS that she said her ailment has been resolved.

Franklin is also a nominee this year, along with Ronald Isley, for their rendition of "You've Got a Friend."

Hudson was clearly moved when talking about what Franklin has meant to her, and her family. She'll be one of four female singers paying tribute - along with Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

And the fact that CBS is sticking by it's story is telling. Also, as someone who had a dear friend lose her husband to pancreatic cancer, the fact that he was able to live a semi-normal life, go camping and walk his daughter down the aisle still didn't change his medical condition and the reality of the situation.

sosgemini said:

RnBAmbassador said:

And the fact that CBS is sticking by it's story is telling. Also, as someone who had a dear friend lose her husband to pancreatic cancer, the fact that he was able to live a semi-normal life, go camping and walk his daughter down the aisle still didn't change his medical condition and the reality of the situation.

Actually RnBAmbassador said they changed that statement.

[Edited 2/11/11 18:08pm]

Timmy84 said:

sosgemini said:

And the fact that CBS is sticking by it's story is telling. Also, as someone who had a dear friend lose her husband to pancreatic cancer, the fact that he was able to live a semi-normal life, go camping and walk his daughter down the aisle still didn't change his medical condition and the reality of the situation.

Actually RnBAmbassador said they changed that statement.

To this:

It was reported that the 68-year-old Franklin late last year was suffering from pancreatic cancer, according to CBS News. They report that Franklin underwent surgery in Detroit, and she told CBS that she said her ailment has been resolved.

Aretha makes her first public appearance since October at the Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat game in Detroit with Jesse Jackson:

[img:$uid]http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20110211&Category=SPORTS03&ArtNo=110211063&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0[/img:$uid]

Aretha Franklin attends Pistons game with Rev. Jesse Jackson

The Pistons’ marquee home game of the season — the Miami Heat’s first appearance at the Palace — drew a host of big and semi-big names tonight.

That included Aretha Franklin, who sat next to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in her highest profile public appearance since her health scare late last year. She called a boisterous reception she received from fans “fabulous.”

“I feel great,” she told the Free Press. “It’s great to get back out. The reaction from everyone here has been fabulous.”

Jackson, a good friend, referred to her as a “national treasure.”

More pictures from Aretha's appearance:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi...2d0537.jpg

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi...4f0114.jpg