Aretha Franklin is being honored by the Thelonius Monk Institute on Monday, September 12th in Washington DC at the Kennedy Center. Singer/actress Jennifer is singing in her honor.

IMHO, Miss Hudson ought to be the primary actress used to portray Aretha in the biopic: FROM THESE ROOTS.

Speaking of The Queen of Soul, she is headed to Houston, Texas on November 17th for a concert.

On Labor Day she opened for Barack Obama in Detroit doing 4 songs, "I Came To Lift Him Up", "Chain Of Fools", a vocal tour de force rendition of "Moody's Mood For Love" and a set closing "Respect".

Yesterday it was announced that the home Aretha was born in down south in Memphis, Tennessee, is being rennovated after a fire to be turned in an Aretha Franklin Museum. Planners hopr to have it ready for a dedication on Miss Franklin's 71st birthday.