Aretha plots comeback
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has bounced back from a bout of ill health to record her 38th studio album.
The 18-time Grammy winner has been working on Aretha: Woman Falling Out Of Love on and off for the past five years, but the opus is finally finished and set for release on May 3.
A couple of big names are assisting the legendary diva on her comeback effort. R Kelly – who helped out on Whitney Houston’s recent album – has contributed songs and Aretha is believed to have shared studio time with country superstar Faith Hill and ’80s singer Richard Marx.
“It’s definitely going to take the boomers back … but it’s also contemporary with respect to other writers and production,” the 68-year-old said of the new album.
Aretha was the subject of a tribute at the Grammy awards this year and made a special appearance at the event, showing off her recent weight loss.
While we wait for new material, check out this stunning performance of I Say A Little Prayer from 1970 (below).