The ‘queen of soul’ is said to be near the end of her life, according to news reports in her home city of Detroit
Aretha Franklin is “gravely ill”, according to sources close to her family.
An anonymous source speaking to the Associated Press said she was “seriously ill”, while another reporter, Evrod Cassimy of the Local 4 news outlet in her home city of Detroit, wrote on Twitter: “I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill. I spoke with her family members this morning. She is asking for your prayers at this time.” He said he had been asked not to release information of her illness.
Franklin, 76, has faced bouts of ill-health since 2010, when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to a family member who spoke to Detroit’s press. After an operation that year, she continued to undergo treatment, and told Us Weekly last year, following a hoax report of her death: “I’m doing well generally, all test have come back good. I’ve lost a lot of weight due to side effects of medicine, it affects your weight.” She cancelled two concert appearances in April on her doctor’s orders.
She announced a partial retirement in 2017, saying “I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert”, before saying she planned occasional one-off performances: “I'll be pretty much satisfied, but I'm not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn't be good either.” Her last previous performance was in November, at a gala event for the Elton John Aids Foundation; the same month she released her most recent album, A Brand New Me.
Franklin is known as the “queen of soul”, for a career that stretches back to her early teens and features hits such as I Say a Little Prayer, Respect, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. A champion of civil rights, she performed at Martin Luther King’s funeral, and at the 2009 inauguration of president Barack Obama.
Shock and concern have spread around the music world overnight following reports that soul singing great Aretha Franklin is "gravely ill".
Franklin, 76, is reportedly surrounded by her family and close friends in Detroit. The family is asking for prayers and privacy.
A source who has known Franklin since the start of her career told The Telegraph that Franklin's absence from the spotlight since the end of last year was "uncharacteristic".
The news was broken by Roger Friedman, a friend of Franklin's, on the entertainment website Showbiz411.
"Something's been happening with her health," a source told The Telegraph. "She's missed several high profile public engagements in recent months, including the funeral of Dennis Edwards, who was one of her lovers. It's uncharacteristic of her."
Edwards, who was a member of The Temptations, inspired Franklin's song Day Dreaming. In February, reports said she was unable to attend the memorial due illness but sent her condolences to be read to the family.
Evrod Cassimy, a reporter in Detroit and a close friend of the family, posted on Twitter that he had spoken to Franklin's family members this morning. "I am so saddened to report that the Queen of Soul and my good friend, Aretha Franklin is gravely ill", he posted. "I’ll have more details as I’m allowed to release."
Image caption The star's albums include Lady Soul and I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin is "seriously ill" and receiving hospice care in Detroit, according to US media.
Friends and family are reportedly at her side, as support flooded in online from friends and fellow artists.
Known as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin's career spans seven decades.
The 76-year-old cancelled planned concerts earlier this year due to health concerns and was ordered by doctors to rest for two months.
Last year she indicated her plans to retire from touring following the release of a new album.
Separately, celebrity website TMZ has also reported that a "long-time friend was told a week ago 'prepare yourself, she's dying.'"
Skip Twitter post by @TMZ Source close to Aretha and a longtime friend tells TMZ he was told a week ago, "Prepare yourself, she's dying." The source adds Aretha was down to 86 pounds and her health was failing. The source says 2 weeks ago everyone in Aretha's circle was told "she could go any time." — TMZ (@TMZ) August 13, 2018 Report
The 18-time Grammy winner is one of the best-selling artists of all time and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Aretha Franklin is best known for songs including Respect and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
She performed at President Barack Obama's first inauguration in January 2009, and she moved the 44th president to tears when she performed at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honours ceremony.
Fellow performers Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott sent prayers to her on Twitter, along with the writer of the Hamilton musical Lin-Manuel Miranda and the civil rights campaigner Reverend Al Sharpton.
In 2017, Aretha Franklin told a local Detroit news station that she would be retiring after collaborating on a new album with Stevie Wonder.
"I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert," she told WDIV Local 4. "This is it."
She last performed at an event for Elton John's AIDS foundation in November 2017.
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