Queen of Soul…And Shade: Aretha Franklin Weighs In On Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj…& Barack Obama

Published: Sunday 9th Nov 2014 by Rashad
aretha franklin-thatgrapejuice-cissy

As her newest album, ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics,’ is currently reigning over the R&B charts, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is hot on the promo trail in its support.

With a campaign of guest appearances plagued with lol-worthy moments (i.e. interview glitches, Cissy Houston‘s lack of interest in memorizing words, etc.), it seems Franklin has no intentions on slowing the good times from rolling.  Case in point?  Aunt Re sat down with The Wall Street Journal recently to discuss her new project and, as always, was asked to weigh in on today’s top crop of talent.  Her answers were…umm…interesting to say the least.

Tuck in below to see how the R&B legend feels about the likes of Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, and Nicki Minaj.  This, of course, came just days after Billboard.com interviewed her and quizzed her similarly.  Her comments on Beyonce and co. were…well…just as interesting. See what we mean below.

Bonus:  Did you miss Aretha weighing in on Cissy’s now meme-tastic performance on David Letterman?  Hear her thoughts on this as well:

Aretha on Cissy’s performance (start at 2:30 –  3:10):

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Aretha on Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, & More (Start at 3:50):

Aretha Franklin on Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, & More:

Via Billboard:

I think they’re doing a very good job — Beyoncé, Alicia, Jennifer [Hudson]. I hear my influence sometimes; I know when my voice, when something I’m known for, has passed. But these young ladies, for the most part, are all very original.

 

Your thoughts? 

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  1. X November 9, 2014

    Old b****…

  2. Lil kim (The Queen of push backs and pay pal honey) November 9, 2014

    Old s*** had her first baby at 12, still love her flawless shade though.

    • Mark111 November 9, 2014

      Different time. A lot of people were married and had kids back then. Don’t think it was a better nor classy time.

  3. King Barb November 9, 2014

    Fat s*** that’s why she got turkey neck…

  4. king z November 9, 2014

    the barbz are mad becuz she dissed their fave? hell she wasn’t lying. silence is often the best shade. she paid her dust.

    Go aunt Re! lol i aint mad

  5. Mark111 November 9, 2014

    Queen of Soul, Shade and Don’t Play With Me. She even had Wendy in her place. Now that’s power.

  6. Sherry November 9, 2014

    Aretha has a very nasty disposition. Shes always unnecessarily shady toward others.

  7. Realest November 9, 2014

    When you have one of top 5 voices in history and have inspired basically everyone, you can throw a lil shaaaaaade when you see fit! Lol love Aretha, her voice is unparalleled and her unique voice and music will transcend history FOREVER!

    http://youtu.be/f5d0u_ye8Uk

  8. Queen Taylor Made November 9, 2014

    she needs to get her vocal cords fixed before she throws any kind of shade at anyone especially Taylor swift queen of all music.

    • king z November 9, 2014

      lol get her vocal chords fixed? this woman’s voice has stood the test of time. taylor’s voice has wasted time.

      that girl talks thru all her songs, yet her fans feel like she’s God’s gift to music. girl bye

      • RCi November 9, 2014

        LMFAO YAS!
        U betta tell these delusional Taytay fans.

  9. Keri Hil’s Son November 9, 2014

    “these ladies…for the most part…are original.”

    death at a 72 year old woman even knowing that Beyonce is the biggest thief the game! lol All hail the real queen: ARETHA!

    • SURPRISE……(DEC.13) November 9, 2014

      MAD SHE DID NOT PAY KERI NOWHERELAND ANY ATTENTION…..GO MAKE SURE KERI FLOPSON KEEP HER JOB AT THE CARTERS SECURITY GATE…..LOL

      • MisdamenorFan November 10, 2014

        Say Karry My bags to the Hilton is selling looseys on the MARTA? Lol

    • RCi November 9, 2014

      did u even watch the videos? Most of uretha’s songs she didn’t even write… uretha’s the original thief.

      • OMG Logic!!! November 10, 2014

        But unlike Thiefonce, Aretha doesn’t pretend to have written her songs (or steal writer’s credits).

    • Kang Beyonce November 10, 2014

      She was talking about their voices idiot. She was talking about the fact that they can sing very well, most of the time,without having to use autotunes or any other studio enhancements. That was what she meant by original. She paid them a compliment, and your bitter ass, is trying to make it like she shaded Beyonce. I’m sure Keri wished the queen of soul even had her name on her mouth. Fool!

  10. Old school November 9, 2014

    Diana Ross>>>>>> Fatreatha

    • Mark111 November 9, 2014

      On what planet?

      • YISI November 10, 2014

        Planet Earth!The Supremes alone s*** all over Aretha,what planet do you live on?Diana Ross still tours to this day and fills auditoriums and theaters!So does Aretha but nowhere near the level of Diana! Let’s not even get into the 70’s where Diana,Barbra,Donna,Chaka,Natalie,The Pointer Sisters,and just about every other artist made her a flop that decade!Aretha needs to think her lucky stars Clive signed her in the 80’s, because she might not have been so lucky to have a comeback in the 80’s!Vocally,yeah we know! Aretha sings! Influence wise though! Nope! Commercial Hell NO!Fame?Nope!
        Diana>Aretha
        The Supremes>Aretha

  11. NeNe November 9, 2014

    Real housewives, i am the Queen.

  12. Realest November 9, 2014

    Aretha is from, and reigned heavily, in the times where talent was the only thing that got you on top. Not gimmicks, twitter stuff, behind the scenes BS.. JUST PURE RAW TALENT, and she has/has that- writes her own, produces her own and SANGS HER FACE OFF!!! If she doesn’t like taylor swift, so what? a lot of people who value vocals and live abilities (or lack of) etc don’t like taylor swift. She at least complimented her gowns and Nicki… well thats all we need to say about that

  13. SMH November 9, 2014

    Aretha can throw as much shade as she wants. She became Queen at a time when gimmicks and youtube views didn’t sell records, talent did.

    • Patti LaBelle Stan November 9, 2014

      Arethot was hot in the 60s, a flop in the 70s and 80s and didn’t become hot again until the 90s when President Clinton endorsed her fat ass.

      • Slayretha Franklin November 9, 2014

        Aretha’s had hits in every decade.

      • Oh, so we doing this today!? November 9, 2014

        Something Patti never had.

  14. Check Your Lipstick Before You Come & Talk To Me November 9, 2014

    Why would anyone expect an old woman to be intrigued by Nicki’s talent? I am a big Nicki fan but I can admit it is funny to see this old lady, a legend, simply not having it! I am sure she knows next to nothing about hip hop music. The shade she threw at Taylor was hilarious as well. “Beautiful gowns….”

    • Oh, so we doing this today!? November 9, 2014

      B**** you a nicki stan you don’t know about hip hop either sit down somewhere messy f.a.g

  15. Patti LaBelle Stan November 9, 2014

    F*** Arethot having kids at 12 and 13 years old!! She was sooo envious of artists like Natalie Cole, Whitney and Barbra. It was hilarious when she TRIED (and failed) to imitate Patti’s signature over-the-top style. Old fat b****! Ya never win when ya play dirty.

    • Excuse November 9, 2014

      she was out before patti and had her signature style from the very beginning honey. I love miss patti too but stop reaching with t.rex arms

  16. Dem Lessors November 9, 2014

    So she doesn’t like anyone younger, more attractive and famous than her. That’s cool.

  17. Stephy Tha Lambily November 9, 2014

    The 2nd Greatest Singer Of All Time.

    • Slayretha Franklin November 9, 2014

      1st.

    • RCi November 9, 2014

      who’s the first?

      • OMG Logic!!! November 10, 2014

        Mariah Carey duh.

  18. StingRae November 9, 2014

    I’m not mad at her. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. She could’ve said some horrible things but she didn’t. She has paid her dues and has earned her title. Say what you will Reefa! True divas speak their mind.

  19. Slayretha Franklin November 9, 2014

    This isn’t shade. Aretha just tells it like it is. She doesn’t kiss up to everyone’s flavor of the week like Patti and other legends. She speaks her mind and thats it.

    • Oh, so we doing this today!? November 9, 2014

      I need more beyonce shade from her for real tho these thots are so easily pressed lls

  20. I STAN(D) FOR TALENT November 9, 2014

    Yasss. She the original queen of ghetto ratchness. She inspired all the modern pusssy popping h0es.

    • Oh, so we doing this today!? November 9, 2014

      I thought that was Tina turner. Aretha don’t dance 🙂

  21. Oh, so we doing this today!? November 9, 2014

    Death at “their original for the most part” <<<< that was her being nice. you pressed b!tches up top shading her need to have several and deal kii lls

  22. I STAN(D) FOR TALENT November 9, 2014

    Jezebel Knowles can’t touch miss Slayretha Franklin in her 70s. F** z and poison ivy even know it.

  23. S****** Blonde November 9, 2014

    So shady people like Mariah and Aretha, say the most horrible things about others and it’s all good, funny, right?…But someone else say something about them and is the most evil b**** on earth, i just love it, i have a thing for hated people.

    • TheElusiveLamb November 9, 2014

      Do you even know what you’re talking about? How does Mariah say the most evil things about people when her typical shade is who, when she used to be popular, and I don’t know her?

    • Funkyyyall November 10, 2014

      Mariah is shady but she’s really a sweetheart whereas Aretha and Madonna are c****. But Aretha is a legend and the greatest female vocalist of all time so we forgive her. 🙂

  24. sleazy November 9, 2014

    Aretha havent you been reading the papers Beyonce great performer she is but Original? hehe girl bye thirsty thot

  25. sleazy November 9, 2014

    i think all these old divas think they the best thing since slice bread bye!!!!!!!! aretha never has any good things to say bout anyone she is a mess i do believe that article about her being bitter bout Diana etc she just comes of bitter as hell

    • TheElusiveLamb November 9, 2014

      She’s nice to Mariah & Whitney. 🙂

  26. The Truth Emeritus November 9, 2014

    Come on and speak the truth Aretha!! These kids have no idea.

  27. Kiyonce’ November 9, 2014

    She’s talking about Beyoncé is original with her voice idiots ! & no one in the industry is original now days everything has already been done.

  28. Bey-Minaj November 10, 2014

    She is nothing but a bitter old irrelevant h** that is one burger away from having a stroke she can’t stand the fact that some one young and richer than her is ruling the game dumb fat b**** she needs over the shoulder boulder holders for them fat titties

  29. YISI November 10, 2014

    The amount of hypocrisy! So let me get this straight,because Aretha has been in the business for over 50 years, it gives her the right to be rude all the time?Aretha has always been arrogant and rude when it came to other female stars!I swear to god,something is wrong with the regulars here,no logical thinking whatsoever!There are artist who are always gracious and respectful who get chewed out just for taking a picture,while you have this one, who has been surpassed commercially and influence wise and for some reason thinks she is still the hot s***! I blame fans for that attitude,no one ever stopped to check Rere and that’s why she still is a snobbish rude senior!This shade s*** is beyond stupid! When did it became such a bad thing to have manners?I love Aretha but that attitude is just terrible!

    • DOSSOME November 10, 2014

      @YISI
      Truth is,no female artist,dead or alive has surpassed Aretha in terms of influence.When you have inspired the likes of Freddie Mercury,Whitney,Mariah,George Michael,Fantasia,Luther etc,who still cares about sales?

  30. tim November 10, 2014

    Mariah aint s*** she could NOT f*** with Celine and Whitney in their prime. I cant see how that bish is suppose to be this great voice at all.wispering b****!

  31. DontSayAWord November 10, 2014

    She is so rascist!

  32. FutureCIARA November 10, 2014

    That Taylor & Nicki shade though >>>>>>

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