Aretha Franklin On Missing Whitney Houston's Funeral: Singer Says Her Health Is To Blame

NEWARK, N.J. — Aretha Franklin says she can't attend Whitney Houston's funeral because of her health.

Franklin had been expected to sing at the service Saturday in Newark, N.J. She tells The Associated Press she has been having foot and leg problems. She gave a concert Friday and says her legs locked up late into the night.

She says she sends best wishes to Houston's relatives. Franklin is close with the family. Houston lovingly called her "Aunt Ree."

Houston, who was 48, died Feb. 11 in California, the day before the Grammy awards. About 1,500 guests are expected to attend the private service.

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Comments

[JumpStreet1983]

12:42 PM on 02/23/2012

It's nobody's business about Aretha's decision to not attend. The same people running their mouths on this topic are the same ones talking about how Whitney died and why the casket was closed. Lest we forget, Chaka Khan was slated to perform at the Grammy tribute and couldn't because of the emotional stress. Aretha has had a lot of health problems in the last 5 years, so her health is the most important thing these days. True, maybe she could have got a wheelchair and took some pain pills to get her through the service. But I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt just this once. However, it does NOT take away the fact that Aretha has ALWAYS had issues with female singers that she perceives to be stepping on "her" territory.

[Ahmad Shahiyd]

12:52 AM on 02/22/2012

I posted a simular post yesterday and I am going to repeat myself today. Something was very strange with Aretha not showing up.... Check this out......They make the announcement that Aretha is sick the day of the funeral and cannot attend. During the funeral Dionne Warwick introduced Aretha as if she was there... She paused for a moment and then said Aretha cannot attend but she was Whitney's Godmother and loved her very....at this point she was interupted by someone behind who whispered to her.....Then she came back to the podium and said, "Oh"...Ok... "I'm a leave that one alone... then quickly changed the subject to the next speaker... Then Aretha performs that evening at her own concert. So inquiring minds want to know what happened between Aretha and the family or whoever? Any thoughts?

[Prissie]

09:21 AM on 02/21/2012

I will also say that it was indeed shameful that Aretha was not there for Cissy Houston, I thought they were really close friends/family and for her not to even show her face was disrespecful if not for Whitney then to Cissy. For the life of me I can't comprehend how she is this great singer. I was never ever touched or get "that feeling" from her songs the way I do with Whitney, and for those who blamed Clive Davis, I think it is wrong. The man managed her well for a decade and always wanted the best for her but too bad Whitney fell prey to the obvious. However, she will be missed and hope her legacy lives on.

[fevans98]

03:21 PM on 02/20/2012

C'mon Aretha, you should have canceled the performance the night before and gone to Whitney's funeral to be there for Cissy or out of R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the family...geez. But hey, maybe you have a good reason, who should judge? Certainly not me...as long as you could live with yourself, who am I or anyone of us to say?

[annaannau2]

03:18 PM on 02/20/2012

Earlier I wrote a comment saying that she was disrespectful and could not believe that her excuse was that she suffered from leg cramps. I came off of painkillers and drove myself to church on Sunday after having had major surgery on Friday. She could have rented a wheelchair and had one of her entourage wheel her in. But no, she chose not to attend Whitney's funeral on Saturday morning; however, GOD PERFORMED A MIRACLE AS SHE WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RECOVER FROM HER "ALLEGED LEG CRAMPS" TO PERFORM AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL SATURDAY EVENING! Must I say more???????????????

Ms. Aretha performed Friday night in NY, did not go to the funeral on Saturday, but recovered enough to perform Sat. night. If she was truly the grieving godmother, she would have cancelled her performance to be with the family of Whitney Saturday evening to show her respect.

I GUESS THAT ARETHA SHOULD NO LONGER BE SINGING HER SIGNATURE SONG "RESPECT" BECAUSE SHE CERTAINLY DOES NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF THAT WORD. I GUESS THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IS HER GOD IN HER EYES. SHE IS A MATERIALISTIC WITCH AND LIAR!

[mimidec67]

02:44 PM on 02/20/2012

Hmmm and yet she performed the night after the funeral. Interesting.I think she just wanted to get some attention for herself.

[flairdetroit]

02:39 PM on 02/20/2012

I'm not suprised in the least by Aretha's behavior, but it was shameful.

[SamScuba7]

02:04 PM on 02/20/2012

Sure, OK to make the money and get the free publicity but so nice to forget about
your friend the next day. Your true colors really showed!

[SUSIE11]

01:35 PM on 02/20/2012

SORRY YOU MISSED THE FUNERAL,WHITNEY WASN'T SAYING MUCH,SHE WAS KIND OF QUITE

[goldsilver50]

12:36 PM on 02/20/2012

I hope you are feeling better soon Mrs. Franklin. We love your music too.

[callaluna]

11:53 AM on 02/20/2012

There is a lot of hate being directed at Aretha Franklin over basically nothing. She's old, she's been sick, she had a performance to give that night for which she had been paid. Show business is not filled with loving, adorable people, they're barracudas. According to all the weeping fakes at the funeral, Whitney was almost a saint. You know who the worst of the bunch was? Old Clive Davis, the greedy man who pushed her to perform before she was ready, who set up her disaster of a tour where the woman was booed off the stage and who dried his crocodile tears when he thought of all the millions he was going to make on her recordings from now on. Listen to what her vocal coach said about the whole "comeback" disaster. Did you ever think she was just so tired she didn't want to go on? Maybe after all the years of insanity she had a moment where she just wanted to go to sleep and not wake up. I hope she rests in peace next to her Dad, another really wonderful person who sued his own daughter. But it's all good, folks.

[wkingsolomon77]

12:57 PM on 02/20/2012

Her father sued her because he wanted to make sure she had money,when he left this world. He saw all of this happening. Arista is kinda like a plantation,he has the field and house slaves,the house slaves bring in the most money,and the field slaves bring in less. Life is funny and strange,why cause we know not the hour or day.

[Arsha]

01:17 PM on 02/20/2012

This has nothing to do with Clive Davis, this have to do with Aretha being their for Cissy. She could have at least show her face. Do say she was ill and perform that same night, all I have to say is shame on you Aretha. We can clearly see money out way family

[bobbyeve]

11:23 AM on 02/20/2012

Aretha and Patty LaBelle are both great singers, but they didn't have one thing that Whitney had,
which is a more "crossover" appeal. along with her greatness. Not to mention that Whitney was much better looking, and decades younger.

[wkingsolomon77]

12:59 PM on 02/20/2012

Why crossover if you are only crossing over to pain and trouble. Sometimes it is best to stay rooted and grounded in the church. To many people are trying to crossover,when they should stay right in their backyrad,then your family can peekl out the window and say my child is ok,thank You Jesus.

[stefanie2530]

11:00 AM on 02/20/2012

She couldn't attend her 'goddaughter''s funeral yet she could put on a concert that night? How disrespectful. (no pun intended)

[Arsha]

11:54 AM on 02/20/2012

I totally agree

[jeviga]

10:02 AM on 02/20/2012

Aretha could not attend Whitney's funeral blaming leg spasms? She was in NYC at the time less than 20 minutes from the Church..Maybe she was afraid of going thru the Holland Tunnel?
Even Whitney's ex, Bobby Brown (and his 9 person entourage) showed up for 10 minutes.

[helloanyonethere]

09:50 AM on 02/20/2012

Wait I thought that she was in New York the day before and she gave a performance. Aretha you could have made that trip to New Jersey you were in New York. Shame on you

[wkingsolomon77]

01:01 PM on 02/20/2012

Sometimes when you owe over millions of dollars in taxes,you have to work 24-7 to pay up.

[Arsha]

01:19 PM on 02/20/2012

no excuse.....totally disrespectful