Fantasia Barrino: Grammy Boycott Over Aretha Franklin Tribute Snub

Fantasia Barrino wasn't feeling the R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and this is what it meant to her: boycotting the Grammys.

The American Idol winner appeared on BET's "106 & Park" on Monday to explain her Grammy absence, which became conspicuous after she was not there to accept her award for Best Female Vocal Performance. Turns out that not getting asked to join the opening number tribute to her idol, Aretha Franklin, led Barrino to stay home and watch on TV.

"I'm kind of going through my own little thing," she told the show's hosts (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Last night they were honoring someone who is my idol, Aretha Franklin, and there is no way I could have sat there and not got the happy feet and wanting to jump on the mic because she is my favorite so I felt like, you know, at the end of the day I should have been on that stage so, I kind of did my own little thing last night."

Instead, it was Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride that sang a medley of Franklin's biggest hits.

Barrino will at least get to do a full out tribute to another one of her idols -- she's been cast to play gospel legend Mahalia Jackson in an upcoming movie, a role she's already preparing for by working to gain 30-45 pounds.

The Grammy win (for her song "Bittersweet" and her first in 11 tries) and movie role are a nice turnaround for Barrino, who tried to commit suicide this summer after an affair scandal became public and rocked her life.

For more from the interview, click over to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comments

[KGB710]

02:17 PM on 03/01/2011

Beeatch please!

[nairbf]

12:24 PM on 03/01/2011

Thank God she got rid of that old haircut...who new she was so attractive?

[swan1]

03:34 PM on 02/19/2011

It would have been too much screaming. Christina was already holding notes until she remembered the next line. Fantasia would have a nice voice if she would stop screaming. BTW, why do so many try to "tear up" every note in a song. Sometimes "less is more".

[Anonani]

06:57 AM on 02/19/2011

Everyone is entitled to do whatever they choose to do...this was her choice. Everyone is entitled to an opinion about her choice, and we will have our day with that. Let's not confuse disliking the choices people make with disliking people we don' know. Besides, this is media spin up.....plain and simple.

[diamondeyes83]

01:56 PM on 02/18/2011

It's pretty immature of her to not go because of that. There are so many people who would love to go to the Grammy's but aren't given the opportunity she was given and she turned it down because they wouldn't let her sing. Ok? She's a talented singer, but I can't say I like her personally.

[lewdon]

12:08 PM on 02/18/2011

Well I guess everyone who loves Aretha (the entire world ) should have snubbed the Grammies the. Come on Fantasia...grow up. The ladies who performed did a wonderful job...it was the perfect tribute. i can't think of adding anyone else.

[natalevie]

07:46 PM on 02/17/2011

Apparently Ms. Barrino missed several shows while starring in the Color Purple on Broadway. Perhaps her reputation for being somewhat "unreliable" contributed to the producer's decision to exclude her from the Aretha Franklin tribute. Fantasia has a fantastic voice when she's on her game and I hope she will make a full comeback and salvage her career.

[Iam Kennected]

05:30 PM on 02/17/2011

Fantasia - This is all I have to say about you not preforming at the Grammy's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-i7rz9CsIM&feature=related

[Roderick Bryant]

04:36 PM on 02/17/2011

She had more right to be on that stage than a Florence F. Welch! Who the hell is Florence Welch? PEACE.

[diamondeyes83]

01:54 PM on 02/18/2011

She's the lead singer of Florence and the Machine. They make great music and I was glad she was chosen to sing an Aretha song.

[UserNameJane]

11:50 AM on 02/17/2011

WOW, That's the same reason I refused to go.. "eye roll"

[Jdaddy1951]

09:20 AM on 02/17/2011

Sounds like she will have quite an acting challenge ahead of her. Mahalia Jackson, a fine gospel singer, tended to leave her ego at the door, by most accounts.

[AllyCat7]

08:45 AM on 02/17/2011

She could have replaced Christina and I wouldn't have minded.

[samuraifrog37]

07:55 AM on 02/17/2011

If she was nominated for singing award she should have been up there....by the way, why is there so much hate toward her here? She's got as much talent as any of the the women that did sing...anyone notice Christine Agulara misspelled R-E-S-P-E-C-T ?

[amd02148]

01:38 AM on 02/17/2011

Fantasia didn't say she was boycotting the grammys, she just stayed home which isn't a big deal in itself.

[Kevin Himmel]

01:28 AM on 02/17/2011

Some rather harsh comments from some of you. First of all, there is room for Jennifer Hudson AND Fantasia - both are talented ladies and both are stars! Fantasia has made some mistakes in her life just like all of us. Some of you need to get off your imaginery thrones and stop judging people. Look at the beam in your own eye.

[makemesmile]

01:30 AM on 02/18/2011

Both Jennifer and Fantasia are unwed mothers now. I wonder if Jennifer's boyfriend intends to marry her at all.