Aretha Franklin is reportedly upset over the fact that Beyonce referred to Tina Turner at "the queen" just before their performance on stage at the Grammys. She was in the audience and became noticeably annoyed with the reference. In a statement, Franklin said, "I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy." I have to be honest, I can't really tell exactly who she's accusing of aiming this "cheap shot for controversy" by her statement. Maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding.
But Daddy Knowles is stepping up to his daughter's defense, saying, "I am not taking something this ridiculous to Beyonce. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as a 'queen.' Not queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England. I consider my wife a queen and sometimes call her that. Does Aretha have a problem with that?"
That's kind of an awesome response. I wonder if Aretha would prefer that I refer to the place where I sleep every night as an Aretha-sized bed.
Photos: Getty Images
More photos of Beyonce, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin performing at the Grammy's are after the jump.
(Hint - Right-click on the image thumbnails with your mouse to open them in a new tab or window.)
Photos: Getty Images
T-Bone says:
I used to like Aretha Franklin, but now I see her as a gluttonous, FUR WEARING A$$HOLE. Anyone who wears fur ain't the queen of sh*t!
Greggie says:
Aretha is literally and figuratively too big for her britches.
Oh, and I'll be substituting "Aretha" for "Queen" every chance I get. I LOVE an Aretha-Sized bed! You are so damn funny!
Greggie says:
Aretha is literally and figuratively too big for her britches.
Oh, and I'll be substituting "Aretha" for "Queen" every chance I get. I LOVE an Aretha-Sized bed! You are so damn funny!
Wanna make out?
ella says:
Beyonce's dad's response was pretty much fabulous. :D
Zekers says:
Well T-Bone, I doubt she'll be around much longer...her heart isn't going to be able to handle hauling all that girth around at her age.
...and really, shes been obnoxious and full of herself for years, guess between her insistence on wearing fur and her enormous size, people are taking notice.
Her early Motown days will always be her best...
2 Old 4 This says:
Who wants to come with me to Dairy Aretha for an ice cream?
GetItRight says:
I think Beyonce made the reference of Tina being the queen after she called out a list of notable singers (including Sarah Vaughn and then Aretha) who Tina supposedly stands head and shoulders above. It was an obvious pitch for Tina, the queen being the ultimate one.
tina says:
Aretha is no queen!!! It´s stupid how people consider themselves better them the others and want all titles for themselves. There have been many queens and many more there will be. Queen is an universal word and title used in many. It was not invented to be used only on that fatso animal killer. Aretha, you´ll burn in hell for wearing fur!!!! And stop being so full of yourself. It makes you look very ugly....
gail says:
LOL! Dairy Aretha! Good for Beyonce's Dad, Aretha made a fool of herself.
Loob says:
Aretha is making such a fool of herself.
Hey remember when Michael Jackson used to insist on being called *Michael Jackson, King Of Pop* at all times? Quite tiring. What a jackass.
2 Old 4 This says:
and I don't think Aretha Latifah is going to take too kindly to the name change
Stickler says:
LOL. Arethra-sized bed. Love it.
AlliBaba1234 says:
"Aretha Latifah" Hahaha!
You are too much!
What is Aretha Franklin doing to get to that state of disrepair? At 400lbs, can't you just, like, take a 30-minute walk every day and cut out bacon and get back to around 300? I can see a few pounds of excess, but at some point you are just self-destructing. What is going on with her?
angel hair says:
oy this is petty. shouldn't aretha be confident enough to not be boggled over this kind of stuff?
Girl Friday says:
I having a new sash made for my time as "Perry County Fair Aretha"!
Girl Friday says:
I having a new sash made for my time as "Perry County Fair Aretha"!
Elizabeth says:
2 Old 4 This said:
Who wants to come with me to Dairy Aretha for an ice cream?
May I just say, you are my hero. Between Aretha sized bed, dairy aretha and aretha latifah I'm pretty sure I will have good, out of the blue laughter material for weeks. So thank you, thank you very much.
Jenna says:
Don't forget, Aretha, New York.
T-Bone says:
Aretha bee...
Loob says:
The Borg Aretha. :)
Jeanie says:
OMG. All those Aretha comments just made my day! I needed a good laugh. I wonder if queen-sized Aretha realizes she's looking like a big ol ass about now.
devil says:
Yeah, these comments have me snorkeling my Pepsi.
And, YES, what a Drama Aretha!
Aretha, can't you find something better to do? Aren't there still donuts left in the universe for you to inhale?
2 Old 4 This says:
BWAAAA HAAAA--- this is great fun! Could play for days!
It so confusing now, when I go to iTunes and try to download my favorite song "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Aretha.
can't find it anywhere
Jenna says:
It so confusing now, when I go to iTunes and try to download my favorite song "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Aretha.
can't find it anywhere
++++++++
Interesting, I had the same thing happen to me today. I was trying to book a trip on the Aretha Elizabeth II cruise ship but no such luck.
anonymous says:
#6 to old for this: " dairy Aretha"
LOL too funny. Oh and you're right, she's too old for this.
Obviously her celebrity has gone to her head. ReRe has gotten caught up in this notoriety.
Me doth think she believeth that she owns the moniker "queen".
Eric says:
Tina has been my queen for 30 yrs. Long Live Tina!!!!!!
Mrs Jones says:
Aretha is the queen of soul
She was offended. Beyonce should show some class and make a statement saying she never meant to offend Aretha. It's only right that the youngster concede as a sign of respect.
Beyonce is being the brat here and her father is a disrespectful idiot for the comments he made. Any GOOD parent would have told her to just apologize as a sign of respect for her elders. What kind of parents raised her.
Mrs Jones says:
Aretha is the queen of soul
She was offended. Beyonce should show some class and make a statement saying she never meant to offend Aretha. It's only right that the youngster concede as a sign of respect.
Beyonce is being the brat here and her father is a disrespectful idiot for the comments he made. Any GOOD parent would have told her to just apologize as a sign of respect for her elders. What kind of parents raised her.
Nora Brown says:
Tried and true- "Those who live in glass houses don't throw stones!!!" Beyonce "knew" the Queen of Soul was in attendance and sure you adore rock n' roll icon Tina Turner but what Beyonce did was an indirect, under-handed, snide remark PERIOD! Aretha Franklin will always be known as the Queen of Soul, she and others in her day gave birth to many of the soulful sounds and style you hear today. Despite her weight problem the woman is pure TALENT which is sssoooo lacking today.
I am so tired of hearing chipmunks whose vocals come from their nasal passages and not from deep within (real soul) and they only have physical attributes (the only thing sometimes), the glitz they are wearing, and dancers hopping around to give the illusion you are watching such an incredible show. This is what happens when soul music is homogenized and when the people are far away from WHAT'S REAL! RESPECT THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE YOU! Beyonce, you are pretty, famous and fortunate but... IGNORANT AS HELL!!!
Tandie says:
Oh Aretha Oh. . .what has become of you
It is so embarassing that someone as loved and respected like Aretha would go around making petty statements like this.
Pity talent doesn't come with dignity and wisdom.
realitycheck81 says:
So what is Beyonce responded to Tina Turner as the Queen? Tina Turner is a Queen, of Rock and Roll. Beyonce said "Give it up for the QUEEN" she did not say Queen of Soul, Queen of R&B, Queen of Jazz, or anything, she said Queen, period. Aretha Can sing, so can Tina, Nora Brown how can you say what Beyonce said is underhanded, and snide. Beyonce was giving Accolades to a person who deserved them, and don't you dare say Aretha is better. Tina Turner sings R&B, and many more genres, than that. She sings country, blues, Gutbuckett R&B(which she is known as the Queen of ) Soul, Pop, Gospel, Most notabley Rock and even jazz (contributing a Jazz song["Edith and the King Pins"] for the 2008, Grammy album of the year [River: the Joni Letters]Tina has been around just as long, and overcome things that sister Re, could not have ever imagined. Aretha forgets that there are other Queens out there, Loretta Lynn, Queen of Country, Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues, and Madonna, Queen of Pop. You think they objected to Tina being referred to as Queen? probably not. They don't need that formality, to affirm their status as Music Royalty. They are not that shallow. Aretha needs to apologize to Beyonce, Gladys, Chaka, Patti,and the QUEEN of Rock and roll & Gutbuckett R&B, the talented Ms. Tina Turner, and many other singers for feeling she is better than they are. Aretha, you should be more concerned with getting a dress with sleeves than worrying about whos not kissing your huge fanny....let other people have their few minutes, and for the record, Beyonce and Tina stole the show...it was the highlight of the grammy evening, along with Rehab, Amy Winehouse....check yourself Re. You have ego by the pound.
realitycheck81 says:
So what is Beyonce responded to Tina Turner as the Queen? Tina Turner is a Queen, of Rock and Roll. Beyonce said "Give it up for the QUEEN" she did not say Queen of Soul, Queen of R&B, Queen of Jazz, or anything, she said Queen, period. Aretha Can sing, so can Tina, Nora Brown how can you say what Beyonce said is underhanded, and snide. Beyonce was giving Accolades to a person who deserved them, and don't you dare say Aretha is better. Tina Turner sings R&B, and many more genres, than that. She sings country, blues, Gutbuckett R&B(which she is known as the Queen of ) Soul, Pop, Gospel, Most notabley Rock and even jazz (contributing a Jazz song["Edith and the King Pins"] for the 2008, Grammy album of the year [River: the Joni Letters]Tina has been around just as long, and overcome things that sister Re, could not have ever imagined. Aretha forgets that there are other Queens out there, Loretta Lynn, Queen of Country, Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues, and Madonna, Queen of Pop. You think they objected to Tina being referred to as Queen? probably not. They don't need that formality, to affirm their status as Music Royalty. They are not that shallow. Aretha needs to apologize to Beyonce, Gladys, Chaka, Patti,and the QUEEN of Rock and roll & Gutbuckett R&B, the talented Ms. Tina Turner, and many other singers for feeling she is better than they are. Aretha, you should be more concerned with getting a dress with sleeves than worrying about whos not kissing your huge fanny....let other people have their few minutes, and for the record, Beyonce and Tina stole the show...it was the highlight of the grammy evening, along with Rehab, Amy Winehouse....check yourself Re. You have ego by the pound.
beanie says:
Let me say this I was offended when Beyonce called Tina T. the Queen in her reference she stated several names than she state "there is only one quueen" and that what is upsetting, she did not say the Tina Turner is a queen. Tell Matthew Knowles to utilize his listening skills.
There is only one queen Aretha Franklin
realitycheck81 says:
Beanie, you are not Aretha Franklin, thus you should not be offended :-P. Nothing malicious, or even mean, was said about Aretha. So is the fact that no buddy was kissing her huge fanny that got everone's undies in a know. It's what was no said that offended her? I guess Aretha should copyright the name. Ice cream any one?... lets go to the Dairy Aretha. Just the other day I bought a new Aretha Sized bed...get real.
Daozy says:
Well..do you not like beyonce?
She wears fur!
@ T-bone