Aretha Franklin Halts Wedding Plans With Fiance William 'Willie' Wilkerson

NEW YORK -- Aretha Franklin won't be getting fitted for a wedding gown after all: She's called off her engagement. A statement released Monday by her representative said Franklin's wedding to Willie Wilkerson wasn't going to happen.

"Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time," Franklin said. "We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it. We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends."

Franklin, 69, announced shortly after New Year's Day that she was getting married. In an interview with The Associated Press, the jovial Queen of Soul talked about getting fitted for gowns by designers including Vera Wang and Donna Karan, and said she hoped for a summer wedding in either Miami or the Hamptons on Long Island, N.Y.

Franklin said Wilkerson was the one for her and that the relationship was particularly strong because they had been friends first.

"We're very compatible, and he supports me and I support him a lot, and he has given me specialized attention that I don't think I've received from anyone else," she said.

It's unclear if the pair are still romantically involved.

___

Comments

[Garcia Gomez]

07:53 PM on 02/03/2012

auntie re-re, take that wedding money honey & put it 2 good use getting some major plastic surgery ur face/body from the weight loss surgery.

[maxfax]

10:31 PM on 02/01/2012

Rut roh.

[Whycee54]

12:18 PM on 01/29/2012

Aretha has and always do ARETHA. What she decides is her business.. except that hair.. REE REE... no blonde please. ANYTHING but blonde. Don't feed into that Eurocentric trick bag about blonde hair.

[prettyrebel]

12:47 AM on 01/26/2012

I love me some aretha, but why did her partner allow her to walk out the house like that! I do not know why some black women think blonde is for them. That hair is just sitting up there and she looks like she rolled out of bed compared her beau which looks well groomed. That tells me something right there about the band-wagoner. I meant her fiance. She looks awful. OBAMA 2012

[TinaOrange]

03:38 PM on 01/25/2012

Couples know when it is the time to say "I Do" Best wishes to Aretha and Mr. Wilkerson

[Sultry]

05:59 PM on 01/24/2012

I dunno maybe it's just me, but there is something about his look I don't trust. The other side of this is, Any man worth having his wife keeps. He's been married before. There is a reason his wife let go.

[Sunflo]

02:12 AM on 01/25/2012

Hasn't she been married several times before? Just going by your logic...

[Sultry]

01:02 PM on 01/27/2012

Yes she has and they all said they could not take being Mr. Aretha Franklin. Flip side of all of this is we see the public and entertaining Aretha, The private Diva withtroubled kids that aren't yours is not easy to take. I did say any man worth having his wife does not give him up Example: Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Jessie Jackson.

[Minnehaha]

04:33 PM on 01/24/2012

Re knows best!

[pleasantlyny]

04:29 PM on 01/24/2012

Everybodyu is mentioning a prenup.. It did not say it in the article as the reason for holding off.

Are people just assuming or do they know something?

[pleasantlyny]

04:27 PM on 01/24/2012

"We're very compatible, and he supports me and I support him a lot, and he has given me specialized attention that I don't think I've received from anyone else," she said.

I know thats right.... lol

[geddy lee is a god]

03:43 PM on 01/24/2012

I'm not mad at you, Sister Franklin. Sounds like she is assessing everything and making her decisions slowly.

Too bad younger stars aren't following her lead. If they did, maybe Hollywood marriages would last longer than 72 days.

[Sultry]

02:58 PM on 01/24/2012

Slick Willie wasn't slick enough. Just because a person is physically Ill does not mean they have lost their mind. and apparently just slapping a blonde wig on your head is no indicator of competence either. Bet the Prenup reads: You walk with zero of my dollars and assets. After all this time some man with nothing come in with potential to take half from her kids, and family. She don't think so. As I hear it, her finances are not what people think she has anyway. If that is true, Frankly, she can't afford to make the mistake of letting someone take half of what she has left. Just how much is this man worth on his own? Love me some Aretha, but girl that blonde wig gotta go.

[wkingsolomon77]

05:26 PM on 01/24/2012

You must have inside info,you are speaking the truth. Aretha could have made big money but she is afraid to fly,plus her sons did not want her to get married and then slick willy would have more say -so.

[OooZzzzz]

01:06 PM on 01/24/2012

Great decision Re Re.

You lost weight, you got your health and inner spirit back many times over, life is great/looking up more than ever and because of your recent good fortunes, don't muck it up with a "friend" that you knew for decades whose trying to drag you down the isle and take clear advantage of the "new you" and find a change of address and set up permanent residence in your bank accounts.

It's the opposite of the coddling and taking clear advantage of the recently grieving widow after the funeral of a deceased loved one.

Make that move to capture him/her while they are at their weakest point mentally and emotionally trying to angle to fill that void of need...And in the case of Re Re, take clear advantage of her new attitude and happiness about herself since he was "always there" for her but that was about it.

If he didn't want or ask you for your hand in marriage when you were at one of your lowest points; heaviest with weight/health issues then don't fall for the okey doke when all of a sudden you're on an emotional and mental high,......."just look at you Re Re....you're so beautiful and wanting". let's get married.

Kick this alley cat to the curb as your "mate" stay good friends and keep on steppin'.

[sister power]

12:40 PM on 01/24/2012

Fall in Love with "YOU" Aretha. I am also around your age, and I am loving myself these days. You
have the money, Get closer to God, become a vegetarian, learn to meditate using Yoga, find your higher self and get to know her. Take these golden last years of your life and get closer to God. Stop repeating the same mistakes, obviously marriage is not for you. Become single minded and turn to the God of your understanding. Enjoy some spiritural retreats and learn how to take better care of yourself. BECOME ONE WITH YOUR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. You will love being ENLIGHTENED!!!

[BlackPrincess]

05:43 PM on 01/25/2012

Aretha KNOWS God.

Aretha FRANKLIN- Gospel (2001_Divas Live) ft. Bishop Paul Morton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sVitgn3XmQ

[missval81655]

08:19 AM on 01/26/2012

@sister power: You took the words right out of my mouth!!! DO YOU!!! Go on a RAW FOOD lifestyle change and I guarantee you that you will FEEL, LOOK and LOVE differently in less then 6 months girl!!! GO FOR IT!!!

[hjo4]

11:51 AM on 01/24/2012

It takes a wise,thoughtful and mature person to "look before you leap" and that is what Aretha Franklin has proved what she has grown into.Congratulations to her,hopefully others will take a page from her in aspects of their lives.

Marry in haste, repent in leisure.

[cleojones]

11:46 AM on 01/24/2012

Glad she took the time to rethink this decision.. Give it time girl and respect yourself :)