Aretha Franklin canceled her scheduled appearance at
Whitney Houston's funeral service in New Jersey yesterday afternoon ... but was well enough to perform at Radio City Music Hall that night.
Aretha said she had been suffering from leg spasms and wanted to rest up for her show, rather than travel for the funeral. She released a statement, saying in part, "heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne, Bobbi Kristina and the rest of the family. May God keep them all."
The Queen of Soul dedicated a portion of her show to Whitney, and also to
Nick Ashford, who passed away last August.
Aretha Franklin is throwing her significantly reduced weight around ... trying to stop the release of a never-before-seen film documenting the making of her 1972 live album "
Amazing Grace."
The film was shot by the late director
Sydney Pollack ... but according to Aretha's people film composer Alan Elliott now claims to have retained rights to the footage from Warner Bros. -- and wants to release the concert film this year "in honor of Sydney."
The Queen of Soul has retained attorney Arnold Reed ... who says he plans to seek an injunction in Federal Court in California to immediately block the release of the film.
Reed claims Elliott is breaching an agreement in place with Warner Bros. ... that requires him to get permission from Aretha before using her likeness in the film.
Reed tells us Aretha is open to possibly negotiating a deal ... some time in the future.
Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin proved she's half the singer she used to be ... by looking fab in a black gown at a charity gala in NYC last night.
Fortunately, there's one thing the slimmed down 69-year-old diva hasn't lost -- her big voice.
Aretha Franklin made her first public appearance in 2011, hitting up the MiamiHeat/Detroit Pistons game with
Jesse Jackson in Detroit last night.
Franklin underwent surgery for an undisclosed ailment back in December.
Former Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice has a new tour of duty ... performing with Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin.
Condi -- who is a classically trained pianist -- tickled the ivories as Aretha belted out her hits at a children's charity event in Philadelphia last night.
A diva is born.
After wearing this sparkling copper gown with a dyed-to-match polyester wig to the
Tony Awards on Sunday (
left), Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin wore it again on Monday -- but this time with a frizzy 'do -- to perform at the Apollo Theater with her pocketbook (
right).
The 68-year-old diva can do whatever she wants.
Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin pulled a
Lindsay Lohan and showed off her highlighted blonder new hairdo in NYC on Wednesday.
Wearing a pearl necklace, bright sunny top, short shorts and vacation flats, the 68-year-old is ready for summer.
What a beach diva!
It's hard to look at this photo of
Aretha Franklin without immediately noticing her ... sneakers.
The Queen of Soul showed up to the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony with her Converse Chuck Taylors on last night.
Hopefully they give her the support she needs.
After sparking a fashion frenzy with her big-bowed Inauguration headgear, Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin rocked another fabulous chapeau while walking on her own power near Central Park on Monday.
The 67-year-old knows hat's entertainment.
Looking delicious as ever,
Aretha Franklin went to
Jimmy Choo for shoes yesterday -- and when she took off, she showed off her lovely pair.
Looking like your aunt from Massapequa, Long Island getting ready to board the Greyhound to Atlantic City, Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin -- and her toe growth -- checked out of a NYC hotel on Tuesday.
The 67-year-old living legend was headed down to the Kentucky Derby.
