Aretha Franklin Upset with Beyoncé

“The Queen of Soul” is displeased. Aretha Franklin has slammed singer Beyoncé Knowles in the press for introducing Tina Turner as “the Queen” during a lavish duet at the 50th Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

Franklin Wants to be the Queen

Franklin, who began her career in the 1950s, has been known as “the Queen of Soul” for decades. She issued a release stating, “I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy.” Still, Franklin was gracious and ended her brief criticism by thanking the Grammys and the voting academy for her 20th Grammy. She also extended "love to Beyoncé anyway."

Whether the slight was unintentional and Beyoncé adlibbed is unclear. Beyoncé, in her musical opening, honoured a long list of diva singers singing: “Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan. Historical women who have performed on this very stage. When I was a little girl I dreamed of being on this stage. But I knew I needed all the right elements. Like the beat of Donna Summer, the spirit of Mahalia Jackson, the jazz of Ella or Nancy – band, gimme some! Lena Horne, Anita Baker, Diana Ross, Gladys, Janet, and the beautiful melodies of Whitney. The legacy they have bestowed are simply irreplaceable.

Give it up for the Queen

“But there is one legend who has the essence of all of these things. The glamour. The soul. The passion. The strength. The talent. Ladies and gentlemen, stand on your feet and give it up for the Queen.”

Maybe Beyoncé should have been specific and called Turner “the Queen of Rock and Roll” since Franklin is the Queen of Soul.

Known for such hits as "Respect" and "Chain of Fools," Franklin tied with the Clark Sisters for best gospel performance trophy for her duet "Never Gonna Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige. Franklin has won 20 Grammy Awards during her half-century career. She holds the record for most Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Awards and has 11 to her name. This includes eight consecutive awards from 1968 to 1975.

Franklin is renowned for her soul recordings but is equally comfortable at jazz, rock, blues, pop, gospel and opera. She has collaborated with Whitney Houston, George Michael, Annie Lennox and many other pop stars. Franklin is known worldwide for her passionate and soulful vocal style and her massive, powerful, and incomparable vocal range.

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