Aretha Franklin has been in and out of the news recently after canceling the forseeable future of concerts amidst what friends and sources close to Aretha Franklin called a health problem. Earlier this week, we learned thatAretha Franklin, long revered as the Queen of Soul, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The news on Aretha Franklin came viaWXYZ-TV, Detroit, who reported it on Wednesday.
The National Enquirer said the 68-year-old singer has an incurable case of the disease, but that was not confirmed by WXYZ-TV, which attributed the cancer diagnosis to an unnamed close family friend.
Franklin's publicist said last week the Detroit native underwent a highly successful operation for an undisclosed illness.
The singer recently announced she was canceling performances and appearances through May so she could focus on unspecified health issues.
"God is still in control," E! News quoted Franklin as saying in a statement last Thursday after her surgery. "I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country."
Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as the The Queen of Soul, Franklin is adept at jazz, blues, R&B and gospel music. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Franklin No. 1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time.
