Aretha Franklin Brushes Off Pancreatic Cancer Rumors

Aretha Franklin is making her media rounds, granting Jet magazine an exclusive interview and even calling in to 'The Wendy Williams Show.'

Now, after months of speculation, the Queen of Soul is brushing off speculation that she is suffering from pancreatic cancer. The 'Respect' singer spoke with her friend and 'Access Hollywood' correspondent Shaun Robinson about her feelings on reading reports that she had cancer.

"Well, there was just so many wild things out there and just so many things being said that weren't true," Franklin told Robinson in a phone interview this week. "I just felt I needed to address it a little."

She continued, "I don't know where pancreatic cancer came from. I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that. No one in my family ever said that to anybody."The 68-year-old superstar revealed that the pain "was so hard it almost brought me to my knees," and that she made the decision to cancel her concerts until she could determine what was wrong.

As previously mentioned, big names such as Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Berry Gordy, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have personally called Franklin to check on her well-being. But, she also was recently contacted by President Barack Obama, for whom she performed at his request at his inauguration in 2009.

"I got a wonderful and beautiful letter from the president," Franklin revealed. "And nobody does it like him!"

Regardless of what illness she is suffering from, the 'Respect' singer seems in good spirits and admits to losing some weight.

"I'm down to a rockin' [size] 16 - 18," she exclaimed. "Oh, I'm comin' with it, okay! It's getting better every day. I plan on keeping this weight that I have now -- I'm so happy with it."

Professionally, she has another reason to celebrate.

The 20-time Grammy Award winner is nominated for a Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals for 'You've Got A Friend' with Ron Isley. Although she is unlikely to attend February's Grammy Award ceremony, she will resume her career schedule and promises to make up canceled dates in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Kansas City in May.

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