Is Aretha sick?

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Prayer vigil held for ailing Aretha Franklin
AP

DETROIT – A community prayer vigil has been held in Detroit for Aretha Franklin, a day before organizers say the singing legend is to undergo a medical procedure.

City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson and others gathered downtown Wednesday to pray for Franklin. Last month, the 68-year-old singer announced she was canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on the orders of her doctors.

Franklin wasn't at the vigil, but in a statement she thanked the City Council, saying "all prayers are good."

A news release announcing the vigil says Franklin's medical procedure is scheduled for Thursday. A message seeking comment was left with Franklin's publicist, Tracey Jordan.

Her troubles have been going on for some time now.

She cancelled her Jazz Festival performances in New Orleans the last two years in a row, at short notice with no explanation.

Best Fried Chicken in Chicago!!

http://tinypic.com/ih144x.jpg

She was supposed to play a benefit show in KC last month for the new performing arts center and canceled at the last minute saying it was for health reasons, but there were no details released.  Chaka Khan stepped in literally at the last minute...Friday before a Sunday show.

Hope all goes well for her.  The woman is a nation treasure.

Read on Yahoo news that Aretha said her surgery today was "highly successful". :) Still don't know any details, but that sounds like good news to me!

:smilestu

steel driving hammer wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2010 at 4:54pm:

Best Fried Chicken in Chicago!! http://tinypic.com/ih144x.jpg

I recall you were drummed out of Gasland for that kind of racist crap.  You're not exactly a quick study, are you?
:sad
Brainy

Brainbell Jangler wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2010 at 7:14pm:

steel driving hammer wrote on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 4:54pm: Best Fried Chicken in Chicago!! http://tinypic.com/ih144x.jpg I recall you were drummed out of Gasland for that kind of racist crap.  You're not exactly a quick study, are you? :sad Brainy

I think that's her line in the blues brothers movie... SDH has toned down alot.

All I can say is,

Lighten up baby I'm in love w/ you - Plant Page.

I"m not racist, I own a color tv, lol.

I love Aretha, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToCOlIjgO9U

Brainbell I was banned cause I didn't say sorry.

No biggie.

Aretha Franklin Calls Surgery 'Highly Successful'The nature of the singer's ailment is still unclear, however.
By  Jem Aswad
Dec 03, 2010 11:15 AM EST

Aretha Franklin — who has been in and out of the hospital since the summer — had surgery Thursday that was "highly successful," according to a statement released Thursday. The singer, 68, has not revealed what she is being treated for.

"God is still in control," Franklin said. "I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country." Fans held a vigil for the singer Wednesday in Detroit.

In August, Franklin canceled two New York shows after breaking two ribs in a fall. She had a brief hospital stay in late October for undisclosed reasons, and said at the time that she was eager to get back on the road. However, just days later she canceled all of her concert dates through May.

Her most recent performance was in late July, when she performed with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Philadelphia. Franklin joined Rice — a classically trained pianist — for two songs at a charity concert.

Franklin, whom Rolling Stone named the greatest singer of all time in 2008, received a Grammy nomination Wednesday for her duet with Ron Isley, "You've Got A Friend," in the Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals category. Franklin was honored with the Grammys' Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.

steel driving hammer wrote on Dec 2^nd, 2010 at 11:35pm:

Brainbell I was banned cause I didn't say sorry. No biggie.

Steelie,
Allow me to say "sorry" to you for not remembering that line from Blues Brothers.
(Not So) Brainy

Last time I saw Aretha was at the R&R Hall of Fame gig and she was so fvcking fat it was a shock to see that she let herself go that far. Yeah I'm sure she has health problems due to obesity. What a fvcking shame. Ironically I was surprised at the R&R HOF gig that she was paired with Annie Lennox of the Eurithmics, but today I was watching VH1 80's videos, and there they were, Annie & Aretha together, belting out a tune. Aretha was about 100 pounds lighter than, and she was still overweight at that time. Annie L looks the same, very butch.

I wonder if its weight-related....she has let herself go. I wish Aretha would get back to what she did best, sing!
She has become lazy and complacent its sad. Most young people only the lady in the Snickers commercial and that is a shame.

This lady sang (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman - here's hoping she recovers for that alone.

Honky Tonk Man wrote on Dec 7^th, 2010 at 5:14am:

This lady sang (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman - here's hoping she recovers for that alone.

Another person really liked that song was Bowie in the 70's, at about 4:41 in this video he's groovin' (anyone ever say that word anymore?) to it in a Limo ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKILbensN6I

That was great Heart!

Sorry about that.  CBS news posted that Aretha had passed away today.  It has since been taken down and does not appear to be true.

1 hr 44 mins ago
DETROIT (Reuters) – Soul singer Aretha Franklin, who recently underwent surgery for an undisclosed health issue, was reported to be suffering from pancreatic cancer, the Detroit News said on its web site.

Publicists for the 68-year-old singer, who has canceled all her appearances through May 2011, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Detroit News report on Wednesday cited a source familiar with the situation for the cancer diagnosis, an illness which the report pointed out has a poor prognosis.

Separately, the Fox television station in Detroit reported the same diagnosis for the "Queen of Soul," citing a close relative as the source. The report said she was doing "OK."

After the surgery, Franklin released a statement December 2 that she had undergone "highly successful surgery" but did not disclose the nature of her illness.

The legendary singer of 1960s hits like "Chain of Fools" and "Respect" had continued a busy schedule of touring and recording until late October.

In January 2009, she sang at the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Wishing Ms. Franklin a speedy recovery!

Pancreatic cancer isn't a disease most people recover from.  I'm so sorry Aretha is ill.  Terrible news.

I've spent the last year listening, rediscovering Aretha, and just recently started listening to other things....and now this.
Im wanting to listen to her again.

Just came home to this terrible news....:( Oh no....really. NO. Pancreatic cancer.........no. :( I am devastated.

texile wrote on Dec 6^th, 2010 at 5:12pm:

I wonder if its weight-related....she has let herself go. I wish Aretha would get back to what she did best, sing! She has become lazy and complacent its sad. Most young people only the lady in the Snickers commercial and that is a shame.

So that was her in the Snicker Commercial, I thought so and I love it. Get well Aretha.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f167/t56g13h9/Rocks%20Off/Scan101780002.jpg