Furthermore, the TIME Magazine story was the press juncture that soured her with the media forever.

Although they didn't print anything that wasn't true.

The most revealing thing about the Franklin existence is the book SINGING IN STRANGE LAND about her dad, C.L. Franklin. The author Nick Salvatore gets deep. Aretha's real surname should be Walker. Her dad was adopted by Henry Franklin after Willie Walker left Rachel Walker in 1919.

Several family members cooperated with the author, but Aretha didn't. She told David Ritz to exit her home when eh was doing her FROM THESE ROOTS book after he asked some probing questions. Sources say the original galleys of the book were off the chain, until Aretha and her minions re-wrote it, LOL. Same for Mark Bego's QUEEN OF SOUL book.

There was lots of misinformation bandied about during the chat with Wendy and Aretha.

First of all Aretha is not a daughter of Detroit. She was not born and raised there as Williams stated, of which Franklin did not correct her. Aretha was born in Memphis, live there a few yers and then on to Buffalo for a few and then on to Detroit.

Pervis Spann gave her a crown for the being the new 'Queen of The Blues" to replace Dinah Washington in 1964 at The Regal Theatre in Chicago, year - 1964.

Unless they were on food stamps in Memphis or Buffalo, the Franklins wer always well to do in Detroit, definitely upper middle class. The Right Reverend was quite well-off.

The Smithsonian situation over the hat has been a long and winding road mainly due to how much Franklin wanted in $$$$$ to give it up. Amazing thing, is she never paid the maker of the hat and has dissed him in many interviews thinking he should give her royalties for the replicas he sold after the Inaugural performance.

Timmy84 said:

trueiopian said:

What's wrong with the magazine?

They talked about her private life inside it. Basically Ted White being abusive and printed the story of Aretha's childhood about her mother "abandoning" her and stuff. Aretha was interviewed for the magazine and didn't think they'd take it that far. She has since said it's a lie that her mother abandoned her (in fact she said repeatedly that she and her siblings visited her in Buffalo until Barbara Franklin died suddenly of a heart attack when Aretha was nine and a half).

Yeah I read about that online somewhere about Walker being her father's real surname. Didn't Ree and 'em live at Detroit's North End for a while until C.L. won fame for his ministry. I was actually surprised Aretha didn't correct her on where she was born (and partially raised at). She's been living in Detroit since age four.

RnBAmbassador said:

Furthermore, the TIME Magazine story was the press juncture that soured her with the media forever.

Although they didn't print anything that wasn't true.

The most revealing thing about the Franklin existence is the book SINGING IN STRANGE LAND about her dad, C.L. Franklin. The author Nick Salvatore gets deep. Aretha's real surname should be Walker. Her dad was adopted by Henry Franklin after Willie Walker left Rachel Walker in 1919.

Several family members cooperated with the author, but Aretha didn't. She told David Ritz to exit her home when eh was doing her FROM THESE ROOTS book after he asked some probing questions. Sources say the original galleys of the book were off the chain, until Aretha and her minions re-wrote it, LOL. Same for Mark Bego's QUEEN OF SOUL book.

There was lots of misinformation bandied about during the chat with Wendy and Aretha.

First of all Aretha is not a daughter of Detroit. She was not born and raised there as Williams stated, of which Franklin did not correct her. Aretha was born in Memphis, live there a few yers and then on to Buffalo for a few and then on to Detroit.

Pervis Spann gave her a crown for the being the new 'Queen of The Blues" to replace Dinah Washington in 1964 at The Regal Theatre in Chicago, year - 1964.

Unless they were on food stamps in Memphis or Buffalo, the Franklins wer always well to do in Detroit, definitely upper middle class. The Right Reverend was quite well-off.

The Smithsonian situation over the hat has been a long and winding road mainly due to how much Franklin wanted in $$$$$ to give it up. Amazing thing, is she never paid the maker of the hat and has dissed him in many interviews thinking he should give her royalties for the replicas he sold after the Inaugural performance.

Timmy84 said:

They talked about her private life inside it. Basically Ted White being abusive and printed the story of Aretha's childhood about her mother "abandoning" her and stuff. Aretha was interviewed for the magazine and didn't think they'd take it that far. She has since said it's a lie that her mother abandoned her (in fact she said repeatedly that she and her siblings visited her in Buffalo until Barbara Franklin died suddenly of a heart attack when Aretha was nine and a half).

Interesting...I love and respect her deeply, but in the few interviews I've seen her in, she comes across as very formal to the point of distant. I guess like P, or any celebrity, she has a stake in wanting to dictate how her story is told, even if it means changing things that don't suit her. Ah well, still glad she's doing better health-wise and hopefully her new music will be worth a listen.

I died @ the Latifah shade.

Dont worry girl..she'd be better suited to play Pearl Bailey anyway.

lavender1983 said:

Dont worry girl..she'd be better suited to play Pearl Bailey anyway.

And you know what? She'd make an EXCELLENT job portraying Pearl Bailey They even have the same "down home" quality.

Harlepolis said:

lavender1983 said:

Dont worry girl..she'd be better suited to play Pearl Bailey anyway.

And you know what? She'd make an EXCELLENT job portraying Pearl Bailey They even have the same "down home" quality.

For real. I was amazed watching videos of her at the very uncanny resemblance between the two.

Harlepolis said:

lavender1983 said:

Dont worry girl..she'd be better suited to play Pearl Bailey anyway.

And you know what? She'd make an EXCELLENT job portraying Pearl Bailey They even have the same "down home" quality.

I'm surprised they were considering her to play Aretha. She's better off as Ms. Bailey for sure.

Halle Berry doesn't even remoteley resemble Aretha during any point in her life. She would not be a wise choice.

Boy was this interview a mess. Aretha looked like she'd rather be anywhere else and Wendy is as uncouth and tacky as it gets.

Aretha is bold to try to throw shade at Halle for not wanting the role. She only wanted Halle because Halle is A-list Hollywood and gorgeous. She knew having Halle involved would elevate the film moreso than a film staring say Fantasia, or even Jennifer Hudson. She also is probably conceited enough to think she was as fine as Halle in her youth. Moreso, I think she probably wanted Halle so she would pour her own money into it as she did with the Dandridge flick. But Halle's not interested. Sour grapes Ms. Franklin.

Timmy84 said:

RnBAmbassador said:

My favorite part was in part 1, when she told Wendell to move from in front of her shaking his/her ass LOL. Aretha in part 2 told her she would beat her down over that TIME Magazine.

Yeah Aretha was like "get over there, get over there..." she schooled Wendy.

2elijah said:

Timmy84 said:

YES!

I loved it, because Reeree says stuff I would say with no hesitation. I thought it was tacky when Wendy told Aretha she thinks she would get "stupid and gullible" and Reeree checked her and said (paraphrase) "No that would be you.".. You could tell Aretha was saying to herself "This is one dizzy-ass chic". I never knew Wendy could be so goofy, yet on her radio show she never hesitated to boot someone's ass off her show, boot and all. I guess she knew better than messing with Ree. Ree made sure Wendy knew who the "Queen of Soul" is forever.

Lawd have mercy, I hope NeNe from Housewives of Atlanta never interviews Ree, because NeNe might just finally get that ass-kicking she's always trying to give everyone else.

Sidenote: Can somebody tell me what the hell was up with Wendy and that bird hat? Was she trying to compete with the Queen of Soul's hat from the inauguration?

[Edited 3/3/11 18:06pm]

Exactly!!

Timmy84 said:

trueiopian said:

What's wrong with the magazine?

They talked about her private life inside it. Basically Ted White being abusive and printed the story of Aretha's childhood about her mother "abandoning" her and stuff. Aretha was interviewed for the magazine and didn't think they'd take it that far. She has since said it's a lie that her mother abandoned her (in fact she said repeatedly that she and her siblings visited her in Buffalo until Barbara Franklin died suddenly of a heart attack when Aretha was nine and a half).

Wow!!!