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Leave it to Wendy Williams to get her wish.
The daytime talk show host of 'The Wendy Williams Show' who nailed the first televised phone interview with Aretha Franklin after her surgery was able to convince the Queen of Soul to also give her the first on-camera TV interview.
For the intimate conversation, which will air March 2 on 'The Wendy Williams Show,' the New York Times best-selling author and newly announced 'Dancing With the Stars' competitor traveled to Detroit to have high tea at the Townsend Hotel with Franklin.
The 'Respect' singer was frank about her dramatic weight loss, the recent Grammy Awards tribute, her career and love life.Williams got straight to the tough questions, by starting off the conversation with a discussion about Franklin's heath.
"I want to talk about your health," she said. "Recently there was a health scare from what I heard; it started with a pain in your side?"
Franklin replied, "Yes, that was my first inkling that something was wrong, that something wasn't what it should be. The pain was so hard, it nearly brought me to my knees. So I said, 'The concerts are over. I have to go and find out what is wrong.' "
The 18-time Grammy Award-winning diva said that led to canceling her tour.
But Wendy lets it be known she won't bypass asking the tough questions.
She slid in, "In December we all found out that you were having abdominal surgery," to which Franklin countered, "Hmm... is that what you heard?"
The full interview between Wendy Williams and Aretha Franklin will air in its entirety tomorrow. Check your local listings for times.
See video clip below of their exclusive interview.
Her Royal Highness
After recording a string of jazz and blues projects for Columbia Records, Memphis born songstress Aretha Franklin landed at Atlantic Records in 1966. "They made me sit down on the piano and the hits came," she later said about her legacy there.
Aretha Franklin performing during a Martin Luther King Benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on June 28, 1968.
Aretha Franklin with 'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius. Franklin was one of many entertainers who performed on the long-running show during its 1970s heyday.
Aretha Franklin rehearsing for Inaugural Eve program for newly elected US President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale at the Kennedy Center in 1977.
Flanked in fur, Aretha Franklin in the press room at the Grammy Awards, circa early 1980s.
Aretha Franklin performing in Chicago on April 18, 1985.
Aretha Franklin, pictured here with Atlantic Records chairman Ahmet Ertegun (circa early 1990s), at a private music industry party.
Aretha Franklin and Luciano Pavarotti are photographed at the 8th Annual Music Cares Gala in Honor of the famed opera singer. The event took place at New York City's posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel on February 23, 1998.
Aretha Franklin held royal court during the broadcast of 'VH1 Divas Live' at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on April 14, 1998. During the show's finale a stirring rendition of her classic song, 'Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel),' The Queen of Soul is joined by Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Carole King, Celine Dion and Shania Twain.
On September 29, 1999, President Bill Clinton, along with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, awarded Aretha Franklin with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
Comments: (49)
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By: stare k on 3/01/2011 4:02PM
Aretha if you don't want to talk about your health
ISSUES ,DON'T .That is your personal business not the public.Some peopel said the suppose to know because they were /are your fan uuuuuuumm .Probably is true . Let's get real they bought your music on their own free will .Bottom line they liked your music . If u don't want to tell it ,DON"T .
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By: stare k on 3/01/2011 4:05PM
Miss .Franklin Don't tell them nothing about your health . It is your business , not the public .
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By: Pam on 3/01/2011 11:17PM
Ms. Franklin, I glad that you are feeling well, you're personal issue are your own. But if you don't what ppl to guess what your problem, please stay off of magazines,newspapers and television. The most of us known that you had weight loss surgery, SO! And if I stand corrected, Messy Jessie Jackson came out talking about your health. But like Star Jones, she had to come clean about her surgery too.
And as my grandmother use to say, if you don't want ppl talking about you, don't stand in the front yard! #NEXT#
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By: Pam's Grandma on 3/02/2011 1:00PM
Lol, who are you supposed to be? Listen to your granny...
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By: Trudy on 3/02/2011 10:29AM
PAM I WISH THAT YOU AND ALL OTHERS WHO MISSPELL THE WORD Y O U R WILL LEARN HOW THE WORD YOUR WHEN IT MEANS POSSESSION IS SPELLED Y O U R. THE SPELLING YOU'RE IS THE CONTRACTION FOR YOU ARE, SO PLEASE TAKE HEED TO THIS E-MAIL AND KNOW FROM NOW ON THE DIFFERENCE, THANK YOU. YOU SPELLED IT CORRECTLY THE SECOND TIME YOU USED IT,BUT THE FIRST YOU MISSPELLED IT. AGAIN WHEN IT IS USED POSSESSIVELY IT IS ALWAYS Y O U R, AND WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY FOR SHORT YOU ARE, THEN IT IS SPELLED YOU'RE!!
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By: R U SERIOUS? on 3/02/2011 11:36AM
@trudy
Really R U SERIOUS? This is not the S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E- nor a damn essay. A lot of people up on here do know how to spell & are GROWN. A lot of people use text like wording because they don't feel like spelling the whole word SO WHAT? SO WHAT, if they misspelled a word? I do it SO WHAT. This Doesn't make that person DUMB or ILLITERATE! It is not that SERIOUS! They can do that. Why is this bothering you so much? Like you never misspelled or didn't use proper grammar in your whole life? No one is saying anything with your UNECESSARY CAPS, like you going to jump out of the screen? PULEEEEZ!
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By: flash on 3/02/2011 4:59PM
@ R U Serious, Thank you,Thank you, Thank you. People like that just makes me sick. Then had nothing to say about Aretha. Makes you think she trolls to find mistakes.
I hope Ms.Franklin is doing well and will be around for years to come,I love her music.
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By: cdm on 3/01/2011 5:38PM
Aretha you look good, but it's clear that you're very ill. I hate to see you like this and it's breaking my heart. My prayers will always be with you. Forever the queen of soul. Forever.
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By: Nancye on 3/01/2011 5:44PM
I'm glad she's doing better, she has really lost a lot of weight. She will CONTINUE to be in my prayers. I grew up listening to her sing and her father preach..You go Aretha!!
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By: Theresa on 3/01/2011 5:56PM
The problem today is there is nothing sacred, nothing personal in show business and with any famous person. I belive there are somethings regardless who you are are definitely personal! It is up to the person if they want to disclose it. As long as Ms. Franklin is doing better that's what's important! You can also give general information with out personal details - there are so many fans that are truly concerned about the health well being of many famous people they have grown to admire and love. So keeping it general is enough! All details should be considered personal.
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