Soul legend Aretha Franklin has been taken to hospital for an undisclosed reason and is in a stable condition, her publicist has said.
It is not known where the Detroit-based singer is being treated.

Franklin is one of the world's most revered singers, best known for her signature song Respect.

The legendary singer turns 62 on Thursday and last month won a Grammy award for her song Wonderful from her latest album So Damn Happy.

Other hits the singer has had in her long career include Chain of Fools, (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman and Freeway of Love.

She has been cited as one of the most influential singers in modern times.

Last year Franklin led a vigil for her friend, the soul singer Luther Vandross, who was in a coma after suffering a stroke.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...559895.stm

BBC News Online looks at her career.
Franklin is one of the most revered artists in the music industry.

The Detroit-based star has won countless awards, including 17 Grammys - she won one every year from 1969 to 1975.

Described by Time Magazine as "one of the most influential people of the last century", Franklin has come a long way since she first sang solo at her father's church aged 12.

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942 - the fourth child of Baptist preacher CL Franklin and his gospel singer wife Barbara, who left the family six years later.

Her father moved the family to Detroit, where he became pastor of the New Bethel Baptist church.

Gospel singer-turned-pop star Sam Cooke and jazz star Art Tatum were among the visitors to the church and Franklin's home, and became big influences

She recorded her first record when she was 14 - Songs of Faith - which was released on her father's label, Chess Records.

Despite having two children by the time she was 17, Franklin left Detroit for New York aged 18 in search of fame and fortune, leaving her sons in the care of their grandmother.

But her sacrifice did not give her overnight success.

She signed to Columbia Records but was marketed as a jazz/pop singer, despite her gospel roots.

Franklin recorded 10 albums between 1960 and 1966 with the label - but never had a big hit. Her luck changed when she signed with Atlantic in 1966.

Producer Jerry Wexel tapped into her R&B leanings - and she hit number one in 1967 with a cover of Otis Redding's Respect, which became her most famous track as well as a civil rights and feminist anthem.

During the next three years, Franklin sold millions of albums and spawned top 20 gospel-crossover hits like Chain of Fools, Baby I Love You, Since You've Been Gone, The House That Jack Built, Think, Natural Woman and Say A Little Prayer.

Franklin's marriage to manager Ted White fell apart in 1969 after the birth of a son.

But her success continued into the early 70s with hits such as Until You Come Back and Spanish Harlem. She also gave birth to a fourth son, Kecalf.

Franklin married actor Glen Turman in 1978, whom she later divorced, and her career began to falter as the decade wore on.

The soul diva put herself back in the limelight with a cameo role in the 1980 Blues Brothers film, just before moving from Atlantic to Arista Records.

Songs like Jump To It and Get It Right, both written by Luther Vandross, and her duet Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) with George Michael, introduced her to a younger audience.

Respect won an honorary award from Martin Luther King Junior and she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

She has since worked with singers including Mariah Carey, Lauren Hill, her goddaughter Whitney Houston and rapper P Diddy.

Despite experiencing tragedy in her life - her father slipped into a coma after being shot by burglars in 1979 and died five years later - Franklin has always continued to make music.

The 62-year-old recently showed she still has what it takes with her 2003 album So Damn Happy, featuring hip-hop star Mary J Blige.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...560679.stm

for a quick recovery

Get well soon, Aretha!

I'll send a prayer out for the queen...all hail the Queen of soul

Get Well Aretha.... my prayers are with u

OMG I hope it's not serious!

That is very disheartening to hear! I do hope she'll be better soon, not so much for us, but just for herself, so she can enjoy her golden years without ailment .

I heard this on the radio this morning.

Aretha Franklin remained hospitalized as of Tuesday but is "really doing well," according to her physician, Dr. Claud Young. The legendary singer was admitted into Detroit's Sinai-Grace Hospital on Saturday after having a severe allergic reaction to some antibiotics. "I am resting comfortably and responding very well," Aretha said in a statement.

funkyslsistah said:

so glad to hear that! thanx for the update!

I hope they told her that hamhocks are not a fruit or vegetable.